By Lynn Porter, Daily Journal of Commerce

A revamped Hogue Technology Building at Central Washington University will serve as a living lab for the construction management program on the Ellensburg campus.

A 61,400-square-foot addition to the 1970 building was completed in May, bringing it to 96,000 square feet. Renovation of the old space should be done in April of 2012.

In the new Hogue, structural steel is exposed, building systems are accessible by students, and the roof will eventually have wind turbines, photovoltaic cells and a solar collector for teaching and research on renewable energy and sustainable technology, a university official said. Even the building plans will be used for cost estimating and construction scheduling instruction.

“It's a walking, talking life-size scale model of a construction project,” said Michael Whelan, chair of the Industrial and Engineering Technology Department.

That department — which includes construction management and programs in safety and health management, technology education, and mechanical, electronic and industrial technology — will be housed in Hogue. They have been spread across three buildings.

It was tricky to keep the structural steel exposed and meet building codes, said Whelan. Traditionally, fire-resistant foam, concrete and drywall shields the steel from fire. But those methods also hide it, so fire-resistant intumescent paint was used on a significant amount of the steel.

Students can view and access mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems in the addition, “so we can show them how the veins and the nervous system works,” said Whelan. Also, utilities — traditionally placed behind a drop ceiling — will be visible. “A large portion of what's hidden away in buildings is exposed,” he said.

LMN Architects of Seattle designed the project and T.W. Clark Construction of Spokane is building it. The addition cost $19.1 million and the renovation $7.8 million.

The addition is two and four stories. It has faculty and administrative staff offices, a general classroom with multimedia capabilities, wood and machine shops, and classroom/lab space.

The Hogue building is targeting LEED platinum certification. It will have radiant floors, chilled beams, solar water heating, a transpired air collector system and heat recovery air handling units.

The roof is set up so that alternative energy devices can be placed on it and fluids, electrical wiring and communication cables can be run through it to teaching and research labs.

The industrial and engineering technology department intends to use the roof in a renewable energy and sustainable technology program it plans to develop, Whelan said.

Dave Carns, professor/coordinator of the construction management program, said those students previously shared a makeshift lab with others.

The addition has two labs: one for mechanical and electrical systems instruction; and the other for teaching about soils and foundations, concrete construction and asphalt pavement. The labs provide adequate work space and benches and proper exhaust, he said.

The revamped Hogue also will have more study space and computer labs, an aid in teaching building information modeling, Carns said.

“We feel that our programs offer something that most programs don't in that we offer a lot of the hands-on,” he said. “We want to provide proper equipment, space and a learning environment for students.”

Jerry VanderWood, director of communications for the Associated General Contractors of Washington, said the living lab aspect will help students learn hands-on to address building systems issues and the common areas should foster interaction, an important element in the team-focused industry.

With construction getting more technologically advanced, the updated building helps the construction management program keep up with the times, VanderWood said.

About 130 students are enrolled in the program, which offers a four-year bachelor's degree.