Renovation of Small Animal Facility at the Agricultural Research Station
The 12,000 SF small animal facility, classified as biosafety levels ABL-2 and ABL-3, was completely upgraded to meet current nationally published standards for animal care and to improve contamination control.
The Small Animal Facility at the Western Regional Research Center provides food safety and nutritional research, and antibody production for studies in molecular biology and analyses. Animals housed at the facility include six different species (mice, hamsters, rats, rabbits, fish and frogs). The designed facilities include the following: 6 animal rooms (including 1 for amphibians); 2 procedure necropsy rooms; chemistry laboratory; walk-in refrigerator; walk-in freezer, central cage and rack washing; animal receiving; feed mix room; feed storage room; office; separate men’s/women’s change rooms and access control; unisex change room; janitor’s closet; materials decontamination space; waste storage; entry air lock; and new 4-story hydraulic elevator.
The renovation design successfully accommodated new mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems while meeting restrictive noise level requirements. Although the available floor was significantly less than preferred, the required clean/dirty” separation was achieved, while including all of the programmed spaces.