GRAEF-USA Inc.

University of Wisconsin - Madsion Wisconsin Institute for Discovery

The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery are twin institutes, one public and one private that are being constructed in the heart of the UW-Madison campus as a hub for interdisciplinary research. GRAEF is providing structural engineering, site/civil engineering and environmental site assessment for this $180 million project.

Together the four-story buildings will contain approximately 300,000 square feet of research space, including wet and dry laboratories, research support areas and offices. Construction encompasses the entire 1300 block of campus, with the two institutes sharing an atrium and other public spaces. Demolition of the existing buildings began in late February 2008. New construction started in spring 2008, with completion of the building scheduled for the end of 2010.

The structural framing system consists of a mildly reinforced, two-way structural slab system. A special vibration study was conducted to optimize the floor design to minimize vibration effect from foot traffic as well as ground-borne vibration on laboratory equipment performance.

The facility is being designed to achieve LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council to ensure the institutes meet the highest standards for environmental responsibility and occupational health.
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LOCATION Madison, WI