Wichita State University's John Bardo Center

Project Kick-Off

The project kicked off in April 2014 with an ambitious timeline aiming for occupancy by June 2016. With our associate architects, Perkins + Will, design progressed through programming, schematic design, and design development. Construction documents had begun when in September 2014 cost estimates seemed to indicate the project was coming in over budget, necessitating a reduction in scope.

By reducing the facility’s 163,000 square footage by 20,000 square feet — eliminating the entire fourth floor — the team met WSU’s established budget while simultaneously preserving function and the overall image of the building. Interestingly, the actual construction cost came in significantly under budget, validating the original plan. The university leadership was happy to use the unexpected funds to implement the entire Innovation Campus’s infrastructure ahead of schedule.

Early rendering by Perkins & Will with a fourth floor that was eliminated to meet the budget.

Makerspaces

The building houses all the necessary tools for innovators to develop ideas into new products and bring them to market, including a 3D print center, business incubator and accelerator spaces, and a technology transfer office to offer advice on patents and marketing. ‘Hubs’ are available to students 24/7. ‘Labs’ and ‘Studios’ are course and schedule-specific spaces.

Early blocking diagram for the makerspace

Space Planning for Innovation

Innovation Incubator

• Project Innovation Hub: Central space for turning ideas into prototypes.
• Makerspace Hub: Tools for crafting, do-it-yourself, and basic manufacturing
• GoCreate, A Koch Collaborative: Community workspace with sophisticated tools and training.
• Entrepreneurship Engineering Studio: Entrepreneurial principles applied to engineering problems.
• 3DEXPERIENCE Center: Innovation accelerator with 3D printer and 3D measurement

Manufacturing and Materials

• Electronics Hub: Simplifies assembly and testing for projects
• Automation and Controls Lab: Multidisciplinary simulation lab mimicking a mini-factory layout
• Manufacturing Processes Lab: Hands-on experience in prototype development and testing
• Materials and Metallurgy Lab: Experimental workspace for materials testing and metallurgy.
• Metrology Lab: Hands-on experience in measurement with advanced equipment
• Fluids Lab: Experimental workspace for thermal and fluid science.
• Renewable Energy Lab: Focuses on wind, photovoltaic, and solar power

Advanced Aerospace Engineering

• NIAR: National Institute for Aviation Research
• Aerospace Structures Lab – hands-on structural testing of components and prototypes
• Project & Prototyping Lab – Wind tunnel models, small aircraft, and prototype fabrication
• Aerospace Propulsion Lab: Study of aerospace propulsion systems
• Astronautics Lab: Exploration of space systems and small-satellite design
• Flight Simulation Lab: Evaluation and refinement of vehicle behavior and control systems

Automotive Engineering

• Vehicle Design Lab: WSU’s SAE race teams; race cars, machine shop, and engine test stand
• Power and Engines Lab: Experimentation with hydrogen fuel cells
• Controls Lab: Practical applications of control theory with motors, robots, and drones
• Computer Studio and Hubs
• Computational Hub: Build software for networks and complex aerospace problems
• Collaborative Software Studio: Facilitates team-based software writing
• Computer Studio: Access to computers for design and simulation
• Virtual Instrumentation Studio: Education in modern engineering tools

Biomedical Engineering

• Biomedical and Biosensor Development Lab: Creation of wearable biosensors.
• Innovative BioImaging and BioComputational Modeling Lab: Development of quantitative approaches for medical diagnosis
• Multidisciplinary Human Biomechanics and Design Lab: Investigates neuro-musculo-skeletal mechanics and technology development

Distribution of Space: The Floorplans

This floorplan reflects the original arrangement of the spaces when the John Bardo Center first opened. However, thanks to its remarkably flexible design, the spaces have evolved over time, adapting to technological advances and the needs of the innovative projects conducted there.

Special Construction for Unique Spaces

Glass walls along the tour route give potential students, faculty members, university donors and community innovators a clear view of the activities in the makerspaces. This visibility between labs creates a stimulating environment that fosters creativity. The windows into the labs are made of 3/8” laminated glass and installed in a gasketed frame to provide enhanced acoustic separation from the often loud activities therein.

Glass walls along the tour route showcase the work created in the makerspaces. Manufacturing tools and equipment are provided for innovators to take prototypes through the manufacturing process.

In the Additive Manufacturing area of the National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR), special architectural designs were implemented to support various space configurations. A recessed floor trench raceway houses and distributes utilities like electricity, compressed air, and water, ensuring a clutter-free environment. The use of a bus duct for electrical access allows for flexible and efficient power delivery to workstations. This setup maximizes the makerspace’s functionality, supporting a wide range of tools and equipment essential for creative and industrial projects while enhancing safety and convenience by organizing and making utilities easily accessible. Additionally, to support the dynamic loads of robots, the floor is constructed of thickened slabs throughout.

To prevent the HVAC system’s air movement from distorting the Virtual Reality enclosures, the air distribution system is carefully managed to maintain low and dispersed air velocities in that hub.

One of the several project innovation hubs.

In designing the Aerospace Propulsion Lab and the Power & Engines Lab, it was crucial to ensure the walls provided both a fire rating and acoustic separation. To achieve this dual purpose, the construction included several layers. First, a standard rated wall was constructed using fire code 5/8-inch gypsum board on each side of a 3 5/8-inch metal stud frame filled with insulation. Next, a 2-inch air gap was added for enhanced sound dampening. Following this, two additional layers of 5/8-inch gypsum board were installed on the outer side of another 3 5/8-inch metal stud frame, achieving a Sound Transmission Class (STC) of 63. For the door and window frames, they were secured only to the rated wall to minimize the passage of sound and vibration. Furthermore, the glass used in the design was a 1-inch insulating ceramic glass assembly, contributing to both fire safety and sound insulation.

Areas in the Bio Lab floor were recessed where equipment like treadmills and force plates were installed flush with the surrounding floor surface. This setup allows the equipment to be seamlessly integrated into the lab space, ensuring a flat, unobstructed floor surface. It helps in reducing any potential tripping hazards, allows for better data collection, and provides a more natural environment for participants during biomechanical or physiological testing.

Finishes and Furniture: Balancing Cost, Quality and Functionality

Color is used to distinguish academic lab entries. Bold corrugated metal panels differentiate and identify different private industry labs. Neutral colors in the lab spaces provide a backdrop for the equipment and ongoing projects within. Wood elements are used to identify vertical circulation. Ceiling planes jut out into the corridors to draw attention to gathering nodes placed throughout the building, encouraging collaboration.

Innovative Solution for Polished Concrete Floors

WSU requested polished concrete floors throughout their facility for their long-life expectancy and durability in high-traffic areas. However, implementing this posed a unique construction challenge. Polishing concrete requires a consistently smooth texture and very flat surface.

Upper floors in multi-story buildings typically use lightweight concrete to reduce weight, with aggregates such as expanded clay, shale, slate, or perlite added to lighten it. However, polishing lightweight concrete exposes the aggregates and air pockets, creating an uneven appearance and compromising surface quality.

Using regular concrete could achieve the right texture for polishing, but its heavier weight might cause structural flexing, leading to a floor not flat enough to polish. Conventional concrete slabs can range from 10 to 150 on the floor flatness scale, but to polish the floor, a minimum flatness rating of 50 (or no more than 1/8” variation across 10’) is required.

WDM Architects worked with the contractor to provide an innovative solution to provide polished concrete floors in the upper floors of the John Bardo Center

Increasing structural rigidity by adding more steel beams or increasing the depth and gauge of the metal decking could result in a flatter floor but would significantly raise costs. Instead, WDM worked with the contractor to provide a cost-effective solution: temporary horizontal shoring for spans over 7½ feet. Bracing and stabilizing the steel beams ensured the floors remained flat during curing, allowing for the required polished finish without adding significant expense. The net increase to the project cost was only $15,000. The stabilizing shores were made from 4×4 lumber and later reused in construction, making the solution budget-friendly and sustainable.

Flexibility and functionality drove the furniture selections, most pieces sport casters for ease of mobility. The furniture supports “working alone together” concepts, providing a variety of options for large gatherings, group projects, small team environments, and individual study spaces. Powered furniture was strategically placed to accommodate device charging needs.

“Lounge spaces complete with a kitchenette and vending gives students a place to relax and study or grab a snack during a break between classes without having to worry about leaving and getting back on time. Keeping students on campus and engaged within the department can greatly contribute to their success. ”
— Angi Womeldorff, IIDA, NCIDQ, WDM Interiors lead

Sustainable Design Strategies

Low-emitting materials were used indoors, complemented by ample natural daylight, to create healthy learning and research environments. WSU aimed to implement water reduction techniques that also serve as teaching and research opportunities. The design team incorporated standard low-water-use fixtures throughout the building and low-use landscape design. These combined strategies resulted in a 37% reduction in overall water usage and a 50% reduction in water consumption per user. A solar array on the roof is used for both hot water and photovoltaic experiments.

Although WSU did not pursue third-party certification, the campus was committed to providing a building that operated economically. Overhangs and shade structures block the hot summer sun while allowing passive warming from the winter sun. The major building masses are also aligned along the east-west axis to minimize morning and afternoon glare. These strategies together reduced energy usage by 18%.

Energy-efficient Features

Red circles indicate location of solar tubes that bring natural light deep into the interior of the facility