consultations

Merck Operations Support Facility

• Owner: MERCK & CO., INC.
• Location: 5325 Old Oxford Road Durham, NC 27712
• Architect/s: The Freelon Group
• Square Footage: 37,852 gsf
• Certification Date: February 25, 2009
• Certification Level: Silver
• LEED Rating System: LEED NC 2.2
• Project Type: Commercial Office

The Operations Support Facility (OSF) for Merck provides 55,950 Sq. Ft. of LEED Silver certified office, conference, dining and other employee support functions for a vaccine manufacturing plant located in Durham, North Carolina. Sited at the head of the existing manufacturing plant’s central corridor/utility spine, the OSF extends this spine through the facility and into the parking lot to the east.  This pedestrian spine is intended to channel employees (incoming and exiting) through the card access entry gates at the front door.  The OSF presents a front door to the street in the office park, screening the bulk of the manufacturing plant beyond.

The two-story building houses supporting office functions (i.e., management, human resources, finance) for the manufacturing plant’s larger population.  As a new campus for Merck, flexibility to accommodate changing office needs is a primary programmatic driver for the facility. Under floor air distribution and services are paired with systems furniture and moveable walls to provide maximum flexibility with excellent employee comfort/control. Training and conference rooms, a full service cafeteria, and an employee health clinic further support the functions of the campus.

The exterior skin of the building consists of insulated precast concrete panels with continuous bands of ribbon windows that provide views out and allows controlled natural light into the spaces. Exterior sun shades and a day-lighting control system help to evenly distribute light within the open office areas.

The intent of the interior architecture is to reflect the industrial nature of the manufacturing plant.  The main entrance spine is highlighted by a stair that splits pedestrian traffic between the upper and lower levels of the plant beyond.  Exposed structure, ductwork and concrete floors complete the interior’s industrial palate of materials.

Sustainability

Significant Attributes:

• Vegetated open space equal to 66% of the project's site area
• 31% potable water reduction through the installation of low-flow dual flush water closets, low flow urinals and ultra low flow lavatory
• Annual energy savings of 22% from a simulated baseline case using high efficiencey HVAC system with Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) and airside economizer, lighting control system to reduce w/sf
• 58% of the on-site generated construction waste from landfills diverted
• The sum of the post-consumer and one-half of the pre-consumer recycled content constitutes 22% of the total value of materials in the project
• 44% of the project's total materials, by value, have been extracted, processed and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site
• Task lighting at each workstation and office with lighting control system for shared group spaces
• Thermal controls for individual workstations and shared group spaces
• Achieved a minimum 2% glazing factor in 97% of all regularly occupied spaces
• Direct access to outdoor views from a minimum of 90% of all regularly occupied areas