Amgen Helix Project Research and Development Facility, Seattle, WA, USA

The Helix Project is a major research and development facility being constructed by Immunex (now owned by Amgen) in Seattle. It is called "Helix" in tribute to the double helix structure of DNA molecules. The research and technology centre is intended to house Immunex employees from eleven other research laboratories and Immunex offices. The Helix research facilities are designed with special features to reduce earthquake exposure as well as to enhance the qualities of research and development in the Seattle complex.

LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT BY IMMUNEX

The project became possible when Immunex bought Terminal 88, a chunk of land by the sea in the port of Seattle. Subsequently, Immunex has sought to buy up more land in the same area. Immunex has spent much of 2001 buying plots of land along Pier 89, further widening its tract in the area. The ten-acre area is likely to be used in the event of further expansion by Immunex on the site.

HELIX RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

The Helix centre covers a total of 1.1 million square feet in its first phase. There will be four three-storey research laboratories on the site (accounting for more than half the area of the centre). These will be installed with the most up to date instrumentation and equipment.

THE HELIX PROJECT AND EARTHQUAKES

The Seattle area was recently shaken by seismic tremors. The new research and technology centre is therefore designed to withstand earthquakes sufficiently to prevent experiments being disrupted and the valuable equipment in the buildings from being damaged. The centre uses a technique called "base isolation" to do this. This uses a joint to link the building to its foundations. The joint consists of alternating layers of rubber and steel. The joint absorbs most of the ground movement of an earthquake, keeping the building relatively unshaken. Each of the three main research laboratories is likely to be fitted with 50 such joints.

The centre also has special fittings for its pipes to ensure that the utilities needed in the complex are not damaged. The central plant of the complex will have diagonal wall braces to absorb the shock of an earthquake. Each of these will include a piston and a damper.

The research buildings will also be stabilised against very small tremors, which could disturb experiments. This is done by using poured concrete instead of steel throughout the frame. The buildings also have a number of other features such as: steel wall plates installed to suppress electromagnetic fields, high voltage power and redundant outlets, and supplies of compressed gas and de-ionized water.

HELIX PROJECT COSTS

The cost of the research and technology centre has been estimated at $750 million. This is partly the result of the anti-earthquake measures. However, other factors also make a contribution. The use of the buildings as research facilities pushes up costs because of special measures (such as the concrete pouring), and the provision of additional utilities.

HELIX PROJECT TIMETABLE

The project was first mooted in the early 1990s. It was delayed to allow an extensive round of consultation and approvals by local authorities. These were largely completed by 1997. The land for the development, called Terminal 88, was purchased in 1998. Ground was broken on the Helix Project in January 2001. The first phase of construction is due to be completed in 2003.

LEAD CONTRACTORS

The work on the first phase included the following companies: Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (mechanical, electrical, piping and IT engineer), Flad & Associates (executive and laboratory architect), Johnson Architecture & Planning Permitting, (agency coordination, pedestrian bridge design), Koetter, Kim & Associates, Inc. (design architect), KPFF Consulting Engineers (civil and structural engineer), Murase Associates, Inc. (landscape architect), NBBJ (interior architect), and Sordoni Skanska Construction Company (Construction manager).

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