The University of Texas at Dallas Brain Performance Institute
Dallas
Award of Merit

Owner: The University of Texas at Dallas
Lead Design Firm/MEP: Page/
General Contractor: Turner Construction Co.
Civil Engineer: Pacheco Koch Consulting Engineers
Structural Engineer: Datum Engineers Inc.
Landscape Architect: Camille La Foy Landscape Architecture
Technology: Datacom Design Group LLC

The iconic elliptical design of this 62,000-sq-ft building was inspired by the brain itself. Enveloping the ellipse, the remaining facade features a rhythmic pattern of solid and void panels inspired by an electroencephalogram strip. The facility will serve a range of patients, from athletes with repetitive head injuries to adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and seniors with Alzheimer’s disease.

Structural engineer Datum worked directly with the architect to form a unique structure of plate steel that became the building’s exterior envelope and allowed for a 100-ft by 200-ft space to be completely free of structural supports. By forming ladders from the shop-built plate steel structure, the elliptical elements could be partially constructed off site to achieve refined dimensional tolerances. These elements were shipped to the jobsite as unitized elements and erected in place, making for a cost-effective installation.

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