March 2007 Exclusive Feature 1:
FAB CONSTRUCTION
Anatomy of a fab addition: IBM’s B323 annex

By John P. Henderson, CH2M HILL, Spartanburg, SC; Ronald J. Lorefice, IBM, East Fishkill, NY

This article addresses the architectural aspects of the design and construction of IBM’s B323 annex, which was designed in 2003 and built in 2004. Much credit is due to all the other disciplines, staff, and trades people, whose effort in areas outside the architectural work were exemplary, especially in their investment, determination, and ability to meet the challenges they faced in IBM’s new Fishkill, NY, manufacturing facility.

When IBM recognized that production at its B323 facility in East Fishkill facility needed to keep up with demand, it was decided that an addition to the B323 building was necessary. Identifying the annex’s size, location, and relationships to B323 started in the early part of 2002. The site was restrictive; to the south of the building, a small creek limited the length of the building. A building module based on column spacing created the limits of the cleanroom, bounded on either side by cleanroom support and mechanical spaces defining the width, which happened to be very close to the existing width of B323.

As in all projects, ideas are challenged for their validity and merit. The design team had a clear image of the quality this building was going to achieve in performance and aesthetics.

Read the complete article in a pdf format.

POST A COMMENT

Easily post a comment below using your Linkedin, Twitter, Google or Facebook account. Comments won't automatically be posted to your social media accounts unless you select to share.