Renovation launches SAFL into the future
As renovation activities prepare to launch in earnest at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), a thoughtful balance emerges to ensure the laboratory’s cutting-edge research and education efforts continue with minimal interruption during this significant season in SAFL’s history. Founded and built in 1938 under the direction of University of Minnesota Professor Lorenz G. Straub, the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory has expanded its scope from its hydraulic engineering roots to serve as an interdisciplinary center for fluid mechanics research and education in cross-cutting issues of energy, the environment and human health. Since 1938, the facility has undergone moderate enhancements, including addition of a new wing to accommodate a growing faculty and student base, as well as construction of additional laboratory facilities such as the wind tunnel and Outdoor StreamLab. However, the infrastructure and skeleton of the laboratory has remained relatively unchanged for more than 70 years.
In September 2010, the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory received a $7.1 million Academic Research Infrastructure – Recovery and Reinvestment (ARIR2) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the grant provides investments to repair and renovate existing facilities and in turn advance science and engineering research and training. A contribution of $8.7 million from the University of Minnesota’s Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) fund supports building upgrades for accessibility and life safety not otherwise covered by the NSF grant.
Renovation design process
Following a competitive bid process in March 2011, the University selected Perkins + Will as the architect for the laboratory renovation. Given SAFL’s unique location on Hennepin Island in the Mississippi River and its role as a contributing element to a historic district, the University conducted a thorough historical review process throughout the design phases with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office and National Park Service in collaboration with the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission and Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation. A public meeting was held in August 2011 to share information about the renovation with members of the public, answer questions and receive any comments. McGough Construction was selected in a competitive bid process as the construction manager to oversee subcontractors and day-to-day renovation activities.
Improved research infrastructure and building upgrades
The funding enables enhancements to SAFL research in the areas of energy and environmental sustainability with particular focus on producing biofuels from algae, generating clean energy from hydrokinetic turbines, and understanding the effects of waves on deltas. New data acquisition carriages will quickly produce accurate and high resolution research data for a variety of laboratory- and field-based experimental facilities. A key component of the funding supports technological enhancements to enable cyber-collaboration, visualization and virtual experiments. A number of significant building upgrades to enhance accessibility and safety throughout the facility are also planned, including a new elevator and stairs; modern fire and life safety systems; and improvements to ventilation, heating and cooling, and electricity in the building.
On-site construction activities are slated to begin in early May 2012 and anticipated to conclude in August 2013. A ribbon-cutting celebration to introduce the newly renovated laboratory is anticipated in fall 2013.