Project Overview

This project involved a full renovation of an approximately 25,000 SF vivarium space within a secure research campus. The existing lighting, HVAC controls, cage wash systems, and fire alarm infrastructure were outdated and degrading in reliability, leading to increased maintenance costs and operational risk. The goal was to modernize these systems while maintaining strict environmental controls and minimizing disruption to ongoing animal research.

Role & Responsibilities

Power & Lighting Systems – Engineered branch power distribution and lighting upgrades, including complex lighting control systems compatible with established facility standards, phased construction, and regulatory requirements.
Fire Alarm System Design – Developed an unconventional fire alarm design solution that balanced code compliance with operational sensitivity within the vivarium.
Access Control Integration – Designed access control and security infrastructure aligned with the facility’s five-phase construction plan and high-security requirements.
Construction Phasing Strategy – Segregated control panels, lighting circuits, and branch power to support phased commissioning and uninterrupted operation in adjacent areas.
Bid Support & Document Management – Provided active support during pre-construction bidding while simultaneously completing the final construction documents. Issued coordinated narratives, addenda, and responses to contractor RFIs under tight schedule pressure.
Agency Coordination – Provided design support for negotiations with the city and fire department to secure a fire alarm notification compromise that preserved animal welfare while ensuring life safety compliance.

Key Challenges & Solutions

🔹 Maintaining vivarium operations during adjacent active construction
✔ Solution: Segregated power, lighting control, and access control panels by construction phase. Designed systems to allow independent operation, commissioning, and turnover of each zone with no downtime to neighboring spaces.

🔹 Compressed schedule requiring bidding before design completion
✔ Solution: Supported the GC and owner with detailed narratives, pre-bid packages, and active RFI response workflows—balancing the need for fast decisions with careful final coordination to maintain design quality.

🔹 Unconventional fire alarm requirements due to animal sensitivity to noise
✔ Solution: Collaborated with the AHJ to approve a modified notification approach using full speaker coverage and minimal visual notification—just one strobe at each entry/exit—reducing operational disruption without compromising life safety.

🔹 Access restrictions limited information gathering during design
✔ Solution: Maintained tight coordination with the owner’s internal facilities team. Prioritized limited site visits to capture only critical field data and validated all assumptions with experienced vendor partners.

🔹 Complexity of phased construction over five operational zones
✔ Solution: Designed each phase with dedicated circuits and system segmentation to allow commissioning in sequence. This avoided cross-phase dependency and ensured operational continuity throughout the project.

Outcome & Impact

✅ Operational vivarium maintained – No loss of containment, disruption, or downtime during active construction phases.
✅ Customized life safety approach – Delivered a balanced fire alarm strategy that met code intent while supporting sensitive research operations.
✅ On-time bid support – Enabled early construction procurement while finalizing design—helping the owner secure funding and keep the project moving.
✅ Phased design executed with precision – Clear control panel segmentation and circuit separation allowed sequential turnover of spaces with minimal field rework.
✅ Risk-managed design approach – Navigated limited access and evolving requirements with proactive communication, strategic assumptions, and high-detail coordination.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Designing for complex environments like vivariums requires more than engineering—it takes foresight, flexibility, and surgical execution. If your facility needs a team that can operate under pressure and still get it right, let’s connect.

Vivarium Renovation & Electrical System Upgrades – Regulated Research Campus