OU Life Science Laboratory Building is a three-story, 105,000-square-foot research facility supporting the University of Oklahoma’s expanding science programs. The first floor includes undergraduate chemistry and biosciences laboratories and a 250-seat lecture hall, while the second and third floors house advanced biomedical research laboratories for OU faculty.
The building is primarily constructed with cast-in-place concrete to provide the mass, stiffness, and vibration control required for sensitive laboratory environments. Wide-module concrete joist framing was selected for its efficient formwork, cost-effective construction, and predictable vibration performance to support precision research equipment. Long-span structural steel trusses create a column-free auditorium roof, and the rooftop mechanical penthouse is framed with structural steel beams, joists, and braced frames.
The building’s lateral force-resisting system consists of cast-in-place concrete shear walls strategically located at stairwells and elevator cores to provide centralized resistance to wind and seismic forces. Additional standalone shear walls are distributed throughout the structure to enhance overall stiffness and performance. The foundation system includes concrete grade beams and drilled piers, with the below-grade auditorium perimeter supported by concrete retaining walls and drilled piers.
