Ever wonder where cutting-edge biomedical research happens in Chicago? Right here. This is the Molecular Biology Research Building or MBRB. It stands on the University of Illinois College of Medicine campus. It’s near Little Italy. The Loop and Lake Michigan are just a few miles away.
The Molecular Biology Research Building is more than just a building. It is a hub of scientific discovery. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics calls this place home. The department formed in 2003. It came from the merger of two departments. They were the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Department of Molecular Genetics.
Inside the Molecular Biology Research Building, diverse faculty explore fundamental questions. They use cutting-edge molecular and genetic approaches. Their research spans structural biology and drug development. It also covers biotech, signaling, and cancer biology. New faculty study stem cells and epigenetics. They also study the regulation of membrane protein turnover. Current projects address critical gaps in understanding SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
Completed in 1996, the Molecular Biology Research Building has sixteen labs. These labs accommodate faculty and research staff. Specifically, it houses 50 faculty members. It also has space for 600 research staff. The 245,000 square foot building sits at the west end of a landscaped quadrangle. It’s on the University’s medical campus.
The Molecular Biology Research Building has centralized facilities. These facilities accommodate interdisciplinary programs. Molecular diagnosis and protein engineering benefit from this space. The building also provides research and general support spaces. These include DNA sequencing and synthesizing facilities. There is also space for molecular cloning and crystallography. Magnetic resonance equipment is housed here. The building also features offices, conferencing rooms, and an auditorium. Special services include reverse osmosis deionized water and emergency power generation.
The steel structure has a glass and precast concrete skin. Exposed mechanical and venting stacks add to its unique look. A double helix full height stair invokes the DNA structure. It adds a sculptural quality.
The University of Illinois at Chicago Molecular Biology Research Building was consuming a lot of energy. It used 43% more energy than a comparable campus research center. The University took action. They received an energy assessment. Thirteen energy-saving opportunities were identified. Implementing these recommendations is projected to reduce annual energy costs by approximately $844,000.
Improvements include air handling unit upgrades. The building has thirteen AHUs. They are grouped in pairs. They serve distinct sections. Converting AHUs to variable air volume will save energy. Installing variable frequency drives will help too.
Temperature setpoints have been adjusted. Occupancy sensors have been installed. These measures further reduce energy waste. The University anticipates saving thousands of dollars annually.
The Molecular Biology Research Building has been successful. It helps the University attract and retain researchers and grant monies. So, next time you pass by remember the research and innovation happening within these walls. It’s a place where science makes a real difference.