Hendrick Construction Renovates USC Science Building

COLUMBIA, S.C., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Hendrick Construction, Inc. has completed its renovation of the University of South Carolina's Jones Physical Science Center, which will be used for groundbreaking cancer research and scientific experiments.

The 33,000-square-foot project included the renovation of 11,000 square feet of space for the Center for Colon Cancer Research, which was established in 2002 by the Center for Biomedical Research Excellence program of the National Institutes of Health. The renovation created five new labs on the sixth floor, where university faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and support staff will conduct innovative cell and molecular biology research focusing on colorectal cancer. Information on the Center for Colon Cancer Research can be found at www.cccr.sc.edu.

"The renovation allowed us to coalesce five labs that were previously located in separate spaces into one facility, and it will foster greater synergies in our research and more effective interaction among our personnel," said Dr. Franklin G. Berger, director of the Center for Colon Cancer Research.

Built in 1967, the 185,000-square foot Jones Physical Science Center also houses the University of South Carolina's Department of Biological Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, and Women's and Gender Studies. Hendrick's contract included the renovation of an additional 11,000 square feet of laboratory space on the fifth floor, as well as 11,000 square feet of supporting mechanical space on the fourth floor.

"This was a challenging job that required constant cooperation between our team and the university," said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction. "We're proud to build labs that could be used for breakthrough discoveries in cancer research."

The project included the installation of specialty systems, such as fume hoods for work with volatile solvents, fixtures equipped with acid waste piping, and epoxy flooring that is resistant to caustic spills. Hendrick also upgraded the electrical system and installed a new heating, ventilating and air conditioning system.