A state of the art research facility is being built which will include more than one million square feet of office and laboratory space, new retail and commercial space and approximately 700 new residential units.

The Core Laboratory will include a contract manufacturing biogenic facility, a DNA sequencing facility, micro-array facilities, mass spectrometry facilities and other analytical tools. It will be available for use by companies located on the campus. As part of the first phase of this construction project the 311,000 square foot Core Laboratory building comprising approx 1,950 tons of structural steel, including an underground parking deck.

The programme for this $150M dollar project demanded an extremely compressed fabrication schedule, which in turn meant 4D Steel Detailing had to produce precise fabrication drawings in quick time.

Core Lab Building - North Carolina Research Campus (Architectural Rendering)

4D Steel Detailing were contracted to supply the detailing drawings for this project on February 9, 2006, the following day we received a RAM model from the EOR (Engineer of Record) that essentially was a stick model that could be converted and imported directly into Tekla Structures.  Invariably this speeds up the ABM (Advanced Bill of Materials) process to the point where most main components are modelled but there is always a lot of checking required to ensure the sticks are modelled at the correct location and elevation and each member is of the right type, size and grade.  Once 4D Steel Detailing were satisfied everything was correct they issued the ABM and anchor bolt plans after only 1 week!

To speed up the detailing process 4D Steel Detailing has a template set up for each project that allows detailing staff to use the project specific standard connections and client standards.  Detailers are able to enhance modelling time with the aid of standard connection parts and tables enabling speed and accuracy.

To further complicate the building schedule the Steel Erector had opted to utilize 2 erection crews, thus once centre section of the building (3 bays) was erected, the two crews would work on one wing each, this enabled them to effectively halve the erection time.

For 4D Steel Detailing it meant they had to have completed two thirds of the structure in only 4 weeks and 2 weeks after that complete the complex Mansard Roof and Dome structure.

Core Lab Building – Tekla Structures Isometric view

 “We did receive a number of design changes throughout the detailing process, a growing trend with projects as more and more are begun with only a basic concept in place and the detail is adjusted and finalized on the fly.  Good organization and record keeping is key to change management where the best and most efficient way of detailing is right the first time”.  says Luke Thomson, 4D Steel Detailing Senior Project Manager.  “Using in house management tools and processes 4D were able to track the changes and keep the project on time and minimize the impact to the price.”

“We at 4D are lucky to have a highly skilled and dedicated detailing staff who embrace this sort of challenge and strive to give our client exactly what they want, high quality shop drawings, on time every time”. As a testament to the time frame and speed of detailing, fabrication and erection process, the ‘topping off’ ceremony – the moment the highest structural element swings into place, took place August 21 2006 just 6 months after the ground was broken.

Core Lab Building – Partially erected. (photo)