A national leader and one of the top recipients of research funds from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Minnesota’s Department of Surgery sought help from BWBR to renovate a decades-old laboratory while maintaining its tradition of excellence in research, ensuring secure, state-of-the-art facilities for its internationally renowned faculty and enhancing its appeal to faculty recruits.

The new space expands the research area by nearly 30 percent and includes Biosafety Level 2 laboratories, offices and support spaces. Efficient design and open architecture bring sunlight deep into the laboratory and work spaces that once saw little natural light and facilitate collaboration between research groups. The renovation preserved existing air handlers, elevators, stairways and windows, while new sprinklers now ensure full compliance with current fire Life Safety Codes.