The Buck Institute Thinks Green is the Best Color for Aging Research

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Buck Institute For Age Research (Novato, California), the first independent research facility in the country focused solely on aging and age-related diseases, is not only taking a prominent role in shaping the future of age-related medicine, but paying attention to the health of the environment as well. The Buck Institute occupies two connected buildings measuring 185,000 square feet, completed in 1999 at a cost of $50 million. But the I.M. Pei-designed master plan for the site, which already has most government permits, calls for a total of five buildings encompassing 355,000 square feet. The next building, which is awaiting federal government stimulus funding, is a 65,708-square-foot LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified structure, which will provide the amenities and personnel for stem cell research.

In May 2008, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded the Buck Institute $20.5 million to serve as seed money to construct the building to expand stem cell research in California. Under the terms of the grant, the Buck Institute is committed to having the structure finished by July 2010. The institute is currently awaiting a decision in October or November on receiving the much-needed governmental stimulus funding to round out the financing and proceed with the project. The architect is Perkins + Will (San Francisco, California), and the construction manager will be Kitchell Corporation (Sacramento, California).

The ecologically sensitive structure will not use conventional cooling, heating and electrical methodologies. Instead of using traditional natural resource consuming equipment, the building is designed to use geothermal energy for its heating and cooling needs and will not have any cooling towers. Also, the vision of the project is to have hydrogen fuel cells eventually provide electricity not only to this building, but to the entire northern California campus.

For the last 10 years the Buck Institute has been considered one of the preeminent leaders in enabling researchers to understand the aging process and discovering best practices for the elderly to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Now, the institute is dovetailing the environmental piece of the puzzle into its discoveries to attack aging holistically by taking the LEED building concept to a new level. It appears the Buck Institute is not only ensuring that Baby Boomers live long, healthy and comfortable lives, but wishes for senior citizens to reside in a healthy, long-lasting and comfortable environment.

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