Project Overview

Berglund Construction has completed the construction of a new Bioscience Innovation Building and demolition of the Gyte Annex Building. The new building at Purdue University's Northwest Hammond Campus is home to the College of Nursing, the Department of Biological Sciences, and shared instructional spaces. The Gyte Annex was constructed in 1953 as the Industrial Research Building for Inland Steel Corporation. Over the years, it was converted into phases to house academic functions. Building evaluations completed in 1997 and 2000 concluded the building was in need of major renovations; however, experience has shown it difficult to remodel a building with antiquated internal and structural systems.

The building is a three-story structure with a mechanical penthouse that is framed primarily with structural steel wide flange columns and composite wide flange steel floor framing. The floor system is composed of a composite slab on metal deck to support floor loads and to act as a diaphragm to transfer lateral loads to the chevron braced bays. The roof system is a hybrid of a composite slab on metal deck at the mechanical penthouse and a structural steel roof deck secured to an open web steel joist framing system for the remaining area. Both deck systems support roof live loads and act as a diaphragm to transfer lateral loads to the supporting elements.

The building’s estimated 68,000 sqft interior has a dynamic learning environment promoting collaboration, encouraging dialogue, and give students opportunities to utilize cutting-edge instructional labs and classrooms. The research and teaching labs will house the College of Nursing and Department of Biological Sciences and will serve as a hub for quality education and enhancing the health care field in Northwest Indiana.