Dr. William D. Purser D.C. Center

Award of Merit: Higher Education/Research

The Dr. William D. Purser D.C. Center project is the first at the Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Mo., in 20 years.

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The goal was to redefine the commuter campus and give the college some cohesiveness.

Work included the construction of the namesake learning center with auditorium and outdoor amphitheater. Other elements comprised a quadrangle with fountain and student gathering area, replacement of 95% of the campus’ roads, new entry road, three parking lots, campus entries, retention pond with two fountains and sitework for nearly the entire 112-acre campus. Campus lighting and landscaping were added were also added.

The 47,000-sq-ft learning facility was designed to accommodate the numerous activities and functions that are held by the staff and students each year. The focal point is the building’s main auditorium, which can hold up to 1,500 people.

Each of the 1,500 seats has its own power receptacle and data port for laptop power and Internet access, and the auditorium is equipped with lights, projectors, projection screens, and cameras for long-distance learning.

A unique feature is the 20-by-60-ft hanger doors in the back of the auditorium. They can be opened to a 900-seat outdoor amphitheater for outdoor events, allowing the performers using the exterior platform instant access to the building’s facilities and utilities.

Purpose for Purser

Numerous goals were established for the schedule, budget, safety, the environment and minority-business-enterprise and women-business-enterprise participation.

For example, the schedule was strictly followed so that the project was finished 17 days early, allowing for the first commencement ceremony to be held in the learning center on April 21.

A major sitework issue was the remediation of a 100-by-200-ft sinkhole directly beneath the center of the new building. The team excavated to the core of the sinkhole, and approximately 350 yds of fill was poured.

Several unique elements made up the project, including the 55-ft-long precast panels forming the exterior building shell. Indeed, the panels were the longest ever fabricated by the precaster, Carmel, Ind.-based Fabcon.

Realizing the design was a challenge. For instance, the building’s main portion was built using dimensions that were on extremely long radium points—the front curtain wall on a 250-ft radius and tilted out 10 degrees.

Every dimension was to be perfectly aligned with no room for error so that the building intersected at each designed point with the correct angle.

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