UC Riverside’s Multidisciplinary Research Building 1 is a 180,000-square-foot advanced research facility designed to bring together researchers working across life sciences, chemical sciences, medicine, engineering, and related disciplines. The building includes wet and dry research laboratories, core laboratory facilities, a vivarium, testing and support spaces, offices, meeting areas, and academic environments organized to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. Designed with flexibility to accommodate evolving research needs, MRB1 strengthened both the university’s research and teaching capabilities while providing space for dozens of faculty investigators and their teams. The project was UCR’s first major design-build facility and became the first building on campus to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

CMI provided design-build HVAC systems supporting the facility’s highly specialized laboratory, vivarium, research, and office environments. The mechanical scope incorporated advanced laboratory control systems, VAV systems, radiant floor heating, and specialized laboratory blade damper solutions designed to meet the precise environmental requirements of the research spaces. Extensive BIM coordination was used to integrate the complex mechanical infrastructure with the building’s architectural, structural, and other building systems, while high-efficiency mechanical design contributed to the project’s LEED Platinum performance goals. Detailed planning and coordination also supported the fast-track construction schedule within an active university campus environment.