Insectary Replacement Buildings
U. C. Berkeley, California

UC Berkeley approached LDA Architects with an urgent need to relocate facilities for the College of Natural Resources to make room for another imminent project. The Insectary Replacement project was to fill in a constricted site on the College's off-campus compound with a pair of buildings that each had their own unique critical design criteria. The University insisted upon completion of design and construction within a 6-1/2 month period, and would not accept a fast-track construction contract.

The project was originally envisioned by UC project managers as a single building, but we were able to demonstrate that a design with 2 separate structures would cost 40% less, and would permit construction to be completed about a month sooner. LDA provided technical studies and renderings to convince the College’s user groups that our solution would function within their functional guidelines, and satisfy neighborhood activists that the University was genuinely interested in being a good neighbor in a quite residential area of town.

Joining with a general contractor, LDA completed a design that was acceptable to the University, the College of Natural Resources, and a team of peer review professionals. Our documents achieved all regulatory approvals to proceed, and construction commenced within exactly 10 weeks from the start of our services.