Photographs from the atrium of the new Multidisciplinary Research Building, or MRB, indicate the project is nearing completion. Campus architect Jacqueline Norman pronounces the project “on schedule, and on budget” and said MRB recently achieved the “Beneficial Occupancy” threshold, which means the building can be outfitted with fixtures and furnishings.

Researchers will move into the building in early 2019. The building will support up to 56 faculty investigators and their teams doing research in areas including life sciences, chemical sciences, medicine, and engineering.

The 179,000-square-foot building near the intersection of Aberdeen and North Campus drives represents two milestones for UCR. It’s the university’s first major “design-build” project, and it will be UCR’s first LEED Platinum-certified project.

Design-build is a streamlined process in which the university contracts with one entity, which becomes the single point of responsibility.

“It’s a collaborative form of construction delivery that reduces risk for the owner, controls cost, and fosters an environment of innovation,” Norman said.

LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It’s a certification developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage energy- and resource-efficient buildings. The certification relies on a ratings system, with Platinum as the highest of four levels.

“Platinum for a laboratory building is especially notable, given that labs are high-energy consumers,” Norman said.

For more information on the design-build process, click here. More information on LEED is available here.