Location: Corvallis
Completion: April 2024
Size: 220,000 square feet
Cost: $147,040,060
Owner: Oregon State University
Architect: Hennebery Eddy Architects
Interior Designer: Hennebery Eddy Architects
Engineers: KPFF, Systems West Engineering, The Estime Group
General Contractor: Andersen Construction
Submitting Company: Andersen Construction
Key Participants: OSU Departments of Biology, Finance, Design & Construction, College of Agricultural Sciences (key players in space planning and securing grant funding); state of Oregon
Subcontractors: Andersen Construction, Black Line Glazing, D&R Masonry, Floor Solutions, Fought & Co., Griffith Roofing, ISEC, JS Perrott & Co., K&D, McKinstry Fire Protection, McKinstry Piping, OEG, Oregon Commercial Painters, Otis, Pacific Excavation, Pioneer Waterproofing, R3 Engraving and Signs, Rexius, Schonert & Associates, Skyline Sheet Metal, Station Cos., Streimer Sheet Metal, TGC Structural, WH Cress, WPI
A 1950s-era science building at Oregon State University has been transformed into a state-of-the-art research facility through an innovative renovation that maintained operations throughout construction.
Cordley Hall, which houses two science departments serving more than 1,100 students annually, underwent a comprehensive renovation beginning in summer 2020. The project, divided into East and West phases to allow continued occupancy, introduced modern biology research labs, a 220-seat lecture hall, and flexible laboratory spaces.
The renovation represents a strategic investment in the university’s infrastructure. The project reduced OSU’s deferred maintenance backlog by $45 million.
The renovation brought significant upgrades to the aging structure, including seismic safety improvements, accessibility enhancements, new mechanical and electrical systems with standby power, and updated fire protection systems.
Among the project’s standout features is a revitalized courtyard designed by artist Ann Hamilton, featuring custom pavers embossed with DNA sequences representing the last universal common ancestor shared by all living organisms.
The renovation also introduced a new 5,816-square-foot District Utility Plant supporting Cordley Hall and five additional campus buildings. This centralized cooling approach marks a new energy efficiency model for the university, contributing to energy consumption levels 36 percent below code requirements and approximately $150,000 in annual energy cost savings.
Rather than demolishing the structure, preserving the original building reduced material waste and maintained the historical character of the campus. The building now meets LEED Gold equivalency standards under OSU’s Requirements for Sustainable Development program.
Cordley Hall houses the departments of Integrative Biology and Botany and Plant Pathology, serving both the College of Science and the College of Agricultural Sciences. It also accommodates two significant natural history collections – the Herbarium and the Oregon State Arthropod Collection – comprising more than 3.5 million specimens that are now more prominently displayed for public access.
The renovation utilized Building Information Modeling for detailed planning, implemented chilled beam technology for efficient cooling, and incorporated fiber-reinforced materials for structural integrity, all while preserving the building’s historic character.
The project required 15 percent apprenticeship involvement. Andersen Construction’s onsite labor came in at 26 percent for apprenticeship hours, 22 percent for minority hours and 5 percent for hours worked by women.
OSU’s departments of Biology, Finance, Design & Construction, and College of Agricultural Sciences played key roles in planning the spaces and securing grant funding for the project. Funding sources included the state of Oregon, $104 million; OSU, $55 million; and grants, $10.5 million.
The post Oregon State University Cordley Hall appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.