Washington University in St. Louis has selected Clayco, Inc. as the builder for the expansion of its high-powered data center for genomics. The $12.5 million data center is located on the Washington University School of Medicine Campus in St. Louis.
Once completed, the new building addition will double the size of the data center, which houses sophisticated computer networks that store massive amounts of genomic data used to identify the genetic origins of cancer and other diseases. The expanded state-of-the-art facility will help accelerate the pace of genomics-based discoveries, for which Washington University is widely known.
In the university’s announcement about the National Institutes of Health grant that supported the project, Larry Shapiro, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the school of medicine, said, “These projects are helping scientists worldwide understand the genetic basis of cancer and the contributions of microbes to human health and disease. We could not continue this vital research without expanding the data center, which houses the computer infrastructure that allows our scientists to analyze unprecedented volumes of data.”
The existing data center is the first “green” building on the medical school’s campus and received a LEED Gold designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. The new addition will be designed to exceed those standards.
“We are humbled to be part of such a significant project,” said Kirk Warden, senior vice president and partner at Clayco. “This facility will house the technology needed to further groundbreaking scientific discovery.”
The new addition will be built on the facility’s east side. Construction will start mid-November of 2011 and is expected to be completed by the end of May of 2012.
While this is Clayco’s first project for the school of medicine, the firm has been in the forefront of other projects for Washington University. These projects include the recent completion of Preston M. Green Hall, a 70,000-square-foot engineering research building; the 150,000-square-foot Stephen F. & Camilla T. Brauer Hall engineering building; a 92,000-square-foot addition to the Snow Way parking facility; and several residence halls at South 40 Village.