Specifications include, but are not limited to: Northern Kentucky University is seeking Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) services to expand and renovate the Dorothy Westerman Herrmann Science Center in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The totalscope for the project, including design, construction, and all “soft” costs, is $80,436,165 for the construction of a building addition with limited renovations to the existing building, and construction of site amenities and improvements. Note the project scope may increase by $15,980,000 if the university’s inflation-related request to increase the project scope is approved by the 2024 General Assembly. The building will be fully occupied throughout the renovation period. The design team is led by Omni Architects and design development is underway. The design team for this project includes FLAD Architects (National Design Consultant), HERA (Lab Designers), Kleingers (Site/Civil), Brown + Kubican Structural Engineers, CMTA Engineers (Mechanical/ Electrical/ Plumbing) and a Commissioning Agent (to be selected by NKU separately). This project will be an approximate 79,925 GSF addition to the 175,131 GSF Herrmann Science Center. NKU’s Science Center opened in 2002 and cost $38M. Subsequently, in the 2005-2007 timeframe, the planetarium – which had been a shell space at building completion – was fittedout, and a greenhouse was added to the roof of the building. Three academic departments are located in the Science Center: Biological Sciences (BIO); Physics, Geology & Engineering Technology (PGET); and, Chemistry & Biochemistry (CHE). Engineering Technology program spaces are currently located across campus in the Business Academic Center and are planned to relocate to Herrmann Science as part of this project. The Herrmann Science Center features a laboratory wing and a classroom wing joined by a central atrium space; the lab wing has lab infrastructure the classroom/dry lab wing does not. Faculty offices are stacked on four floors in the middle of the lab wing. The building is interdisciplinary by design, with Physics and field Biology labs on the first floor; Geology, Biology and research spaces on the second floor; Biology and research labs on the 3rd floor; and, Astronomy and Chemistry labs on the fourth floor. Much of the building’s HVAC equipment is located on the 5th floor. The atrium houses a coffee shop and is a popular student study area. The building is characterized by light-filled space, well-organized and equipped labs, and many opportunities for student engagement and study. The building has been extremely well received by faculty and students and in all measures has been successful in building STEM enrollment and success. From day one, the building has been a catalyst for STEM engagement. The existing Science Center is connected to NKU’s central Power Plant via an underground tunnel, and chilled water and steam are piped to the building from the Power Plant. The new addition will be geothermal.
