USGS National Wetlands Research Center Lafayette, Louisiana

The National Wetlands Research Center was founded in 1975 as a part of the U.S. Wildlife Service’s Office of Biological Services. The Team was originally headquartered at Stennis, Mississippi, and relocated in 1992. Now the operational headquarters, the scope of this project consisted of approximately 7,360 SF of building to house administrative offices and laboratory facilities. Additionally, the project scope also incorporated a separate greenhouse and shop structure of approximately 4,652 SF with parking area, boat storage, loading docks, and service drives.

The building façade consists of exterior welded cold-formed steel framing, exterior gypsum board with a vapor barrier, modular brick veneer units, a flush metal panel system, and architectural aluminum curtainwall systems. The roof system consists of a combination of built-up membrane and standing seam metal roofing. The research aspect of the project required extensive science equipment and casework as well as a controlled piping system capable of handling 15 different liquid solutions.