Bakar BioEnginuity Hub transformed a historical building, the former Berkeley Art Museum, into a modern coworking life science lab that meets LEED Gold standards. With a new glass-fronted addition, the design represents Bakar’s modernization efforts while still celebrating the facility’s original brutalist style. The project aimed to provide well-equipped, cost-efficient space for local graduate students, young startups, and biotech businesses — effectively eliminating the gap between them and promoting cooperation.
The new life science incubator features private labs for companies needing more dedicated space, open office areas, collaboration spaces, conference rooms, student auditoriums, and public outdoor spaces. When working on this renovation project, VEC’s most challenging task was to design power models that would satisfy all the life science requirements while keeping the building’s irregular geometry and historical character in mind.
As a reliable BIM & VDC partner, we were able to provide appropriate BIM deliverables and ensure high-quality coordination.
VEC specialists worked on this 94,081- square-foot facility in 2021, collaborating with Plant Construction, the general contractor, and other contractors, particularly electrical. The scope of our services included power, lighting, and telecom systems modeling. Our 3D models were constantly integrated into a federal model, an approach that allowed all stakeholders to understand the situation better and detect clashes in the early stages. Our system was vital in the success of the build, given the building's peculiarities.
Since the facility is almost all concrete, upgrading power systems was a challenge, especially designing a new modern lighting system. The challenge stemmed from the critical need to minimize the necessary cutting of the existing structure to remain true to the building’s historic facade. VEC’s expert team ensured the robust lighting focused on the building's character-defining features, while meeting all the requirements related to various spaces within the hub and ensuring they aesthetically aligned to the overall vision.
Our electrical BIM & VDC services cover power, lighting, and telecom system modeling. Also, the VEC team created a thorough BIM Execution Plan and shared it with all stakeholders to provide them with the correct understanding and management of relevant BIM deliverables.
Meanwhile, 3D systems’ models are vital to ensure their proper performance after construction due to the opportunity to detect and eliminate clashes quickly. That also strengthens project coordination as all parties get these 3D models and realize how the systems will be constructed on-site. After all, creating a unique environment that will offer student-centered learning is only possible with valuable BIM data and efficient cooperation between all contractors.
VEC’s specialists deliver exceptional civil underground services for this educational project. They encompass various tasks such as 3D modeling, project management, BIM coordination, civil underground wet & dry (VDC), and onsite technology work. We have effectively utilized BIM software solutions such as Revitzo, Revit, and Navisworks throughout the project.
Our experts promptly document all design-related issues using PDF Markups and propose relevant solutions, including fittings and pipe length adjustments. Besides, we have created installation drawings to ensure accurate implementation in alignment with the plans. Lastly, our team performed essential tasks such as 3D laser-scanning, reporting on deviations from the current conditions, developing as-built models and drawings, identifying clashes, etc.
"It's amazing how fast and how much the bluff has receded over the last year. To capture and analyze this data opens my eyes to what this technology can be used for."
"It was a pleasure working alongside AECOM to analyze the corrosion of the bluff using Laser scanning Technology and Drone Photogrammetry. The data we captured is essential as it will provide insight into the stability and safety of the bluff."