Project Details
- Location: Garden City, KS
- Architect: GMCN Architects
- General Contractor: Dick Construction Inc.
- Services: MEP
When Garden City Community College (GCCC) decided to invest in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) addition onto their existing Fouse Math and Science Building, they needed a partner like Integrated Consulting Engineers (ICE) who could work with unique electrical systems and provide excellent attention to detail. The 10,500 square feet STEM building has a physics lab, cybersecurity lab, robotics lab and student tutoring space.
As one of ICE’s biggest electrical projects to date, the STEM building created a unique challenge right off the bat. GCCC has existing tunnels on campus where all of the electrical is run, which took a lot of coordination with campus facilities staff and utilities.
The high-end science lab has power and gas available at each table, with teacher stations that allow for an individual table’s supply to be cut off during emergency situations. Overhead, lighting solutions called “clouds” provide the right lumination at each science lab table. Below, power and gas are run below grade through trenches, with a chaise up to each table. The HVAC tied back to a BMS (building management system), which allows the school to control and monitor the system, reducing equipment operating costs, downtime and extending service life
Throughout the building, there are quite a few integrations with Audio/Visual equipment, as well as many speakers installed throughout. With many moving parts and pieces and collaborative learning spaces, the STEM building at GCCC has provided many opportunities for problem solving, a reflection of the work being done there by students entering science, technology, engineering or math career fields.