Washington University’s Danforth University Center Complete

Clayco Inc. has completed construction on Washington University's new Danforth University Center in St. Louis, Mo. The $43 million, 115,880-square-foot University Center also achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S.en Building Council (USGBC).

"The Danforth University Center project is a marquis for Clayco. Its construction and architecture embraces a variety of positive influences under one roof," said Steven Street, Clayco's project director. "For instance, the new University Center integrates sustainable design elements, functional public spaces, thought-provoking interior and exterior finishes, and practical amenities in one meeting place to inspire learning and creativity. Furthermore, careful collaboration between the design, construction and ownership team facilitated the completion of the new facility in time for the 2008 fall semester students to enjoy its outstanding features."

Finished in just 16 months, Danforth University Center is located between Simon Hall and Mallinckrodt Center on the Washington University campus. The new three-story University Center houses WUTV-TV, Student Life newspaper, the student union, student and faculty dining areas, conference rooms, campus life offices, a game room and a common area. Built over a pre-constructed, three-story 520-car parking garage which was an earlier Clayco project, the University Center features reinforced concrete with a granite stone facade, complementing the collegiate Gothic architecture displayed throughout the campus.

In addition, Clayco completed a variety of other projects to improve the campus infrastructure prior to the facility's construction. These included incorporating extensive landscaping to conceal the garage, installing underground utilities to support the central underground garage and main garage, and building a 92,000-square-foot addition to the Snow Way parking garage.

Beginning designs for the project included pursuing certification in USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. However with great effort from all team members involved, the project jumped from Certified to Gold standard. LEED is USGBC's leading rating system for designing and constructing the world's greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.

Danforth University Center was designed to incorporate a number of sustainable strategies that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include the use of natural materials and lighting controls.

"We are proud to construct buildings that defend and protect our community's environment while at the same time being the best value for our clients," added Street. "Bringing these two critical elements together in new and innovative ways is what drives our company's success."

Clayco's project team included Kirk Warden, Clayco Senior Vice President and Partner and project executive; Pat Moriarity, senior project manager; Jamie Callaway, project manager; Craig Buchheit, project superintendent; Gary Marrin, operations manager; and Street. TSOI/Kobis & Associates of Cambridge, Mass., was the architect. Joining Clayco on the project were CommArts, interior designer; Woolpert Inc., civil engineer; KPFF Consulting Engineers, structural engineer; Bell Electrical Contractors, electrical engineer; Murphy Co., mechanical engineer; Corrigan Co., plumbing; and Ahern Fire Protection, fire protection.

Clayco Inc. is a full-service real estate development, design and construction firm with annual revenues of $871 million, specializing in "the art and science of building." With offices in St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit, Clayco provides design-build project delivery on a nationwide basis for the corporate, financial, industrial, institutional and residential markets. For more information, visit http://www.claycorp.com .