Grand Challenges Research Building Construction Updates
GCRB is a new University of Arizona research facility leveraging the University of Arizona's core strengths to address the grand challenges identified in Pillar 2 of the University's strategic plan. GCRB is an interdisciplinary facility designed to foster conversations among sciences and programs. The seven-story building is located on Cherry Avenue as part of the Wyant College of Optical Sciences complex. The new building is south of Meinel West, and across the street from the Main Library. Wyant College of Optical Sciences occupies the basement, second, and third floors of the building. The first floor contains meeting areas. The NSF-ERC Center for Quantum Networks is located on the fourth floor. A breezeway connects the Meinel building to the GCRB adjoining Meinel's sixth level to GCRB's third level. The fifth and sixth floors are occupied by other university units, also dedicated to pursuing grand challenges.
See the PD&C page for more details and updates.
Research at the GCRB
News Media About GCRB
- tucson.com: UA expands research with $99 million addition
- insidetucsonbusiness.com: UA breaks ground on $99M ‘Grand Challenges’ research building
- enr.com: Builders Rise to the Challenge at Tucson Research Facility
Grand Challenges Research Building, Timelapse of Construction
Grand Challenges Research Building, Daily Timelapse of Construction
Kitchell's Grand Journey Building the GCRB | Beginning to End
Final Walkthrough Before Building Open | April 2024
Time-lapse of Optics Table Delivery & Setup
A few fun facts!
- Optics tables being delivered range in size from 3'x6' all the way to 5'x10'.
- The weight of the tables range from 660lbs to1660lbs.
- A few tables were customly installed to created different sizes and shapes. For example, there is a T shaped table in one lab and in another tables were bolted together making it 14'x4'.
- A total of 48 tables are being delivered and installed for the Wyant College of Optical Sciences.
- The yellow tool shown in the video is called a Vere Table Hoist.
January 2024 Walkthrough of GCRB Construction Site
January 2024 Video Walkthrough
Time-lapse of Telescope Mirror Delivery
August 2023 Video Walkthrough
August 2023 Walkthrough of GCRB Construction Site
August 2023 Walkthrough
August 2023 Walkthrough 2
August 2023 Walkthrough 3
August 2023 Walkthrough 4 - Detail of exterior stonework.
August 2023 Walkthrough 5
August 2023 Walkthrough 6
August 2023 Walkthrough 7 - Detail of wall tiles in bathrooms.
August 2023 Walkthrough 8 - Shared Bathroom (Basement)
August 2023 Walkthrough 9 - Ground Level, view of one of the main large conference rooms.
August 2023 Walkthrough - Ground Floor, view of the main lecture hall.
August 2023 Walkthrough 11 - Elevators
August 2023 Walkthrough 12 - Basement Conference Room.
August 2023 Walkthrough 13 - Basement Hallway
August 2023 Walkthrough 14 - Laboratory
August 2023 Walkthrough 15 - Laboratory Exposed Ceiling
August 2023 Walkthrough 16
August 2023 Walkthrough 17
August 2023 Walkthrough 18 - Basement Building Facilities and Maintenance.
August 2023 Walkthrough - Building Basement Facilities and Maintenance (Water Softeners).
August 2023 Walkthrough - Basement Building Facilities and Maintenance.
August 2023 Walkthrough 21
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August 2023 Walkthrough 24 - Hallway with exposed wiring for Internet.
August 2023 Walkthrough 25 - Exposed insulation and shaft for ventilation.
August 2023 Walkthrough 26
August 2023 Walkthrough 27 - shared bathroom
August 2023 Walkthrough 28 - detail of Internet wiring
August 2023 Walkthrough 29 - View from one of the upper offices.
August 2023 Walkthrough 30 - Upper level conference room.
August 2023 Walkthrough 31 - Upper level patio.
August 2023 Walkthrough 32 - upper level patio
August 2023 Walkthrough 33 - shared community space on upper floors after flooring is being prepped.
August 2023 Walkthrough 34
August 2023 Walkthrough 35 - Mechanical Penthouse HVAC shaft.
August 2023 Walkthrough 36 - HVAC Exhaust Shaft
August 2023 Walkthrough 37
August 2023 Walkthrough 38 - Upper level conference room
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August 2023 Walkthrough 40
August 2023 Walkthrough 41 - Large Conference Room
August 2023 Walkthrough 42 - Entrance to Patio
August 2023 Walkthrough 43 - Patio
August 2023 Walkthrough 44 - Looking down from upper patio to lower patio
August 2023 Walkthrough 45
August 2023 Walkthrough 46 - View of breezeway connecting GCRB and Meinel building.
August 2023 Walkthrough 47 - Looking out from the breezeway.
August 2023 Walkthrough 48 - Looking toward GCRB from breezeway.
August 2023 Walkthrough 49 - Connection between GCRB Breezeway and Meinel building (before completion).
August 2023 Walkthrough 50 - On GCRB breezeway showing expansion joint connecting breezeway to Meinel building--allows for 8 in. of expansion.
August 2023 Walkthrough 51 - Breezeway
August 2023 Walkthrough 52
August 2023 Walkthrough 53 - Exterior stairwell
August 2023 Walkthrough 54 - View of Meinel building from exterior stairwell.
August 2023 Walkthrough - View of Meinel building from exterior stairwell.
August 2023 Walkthrough 56 - View from the top!
August 2023 Walkthrough 57 - Collaborative lab spaces
August 2023 Walkthrough 58 - view from hallway looking out toward patio
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August 2023 Walkthrough 61 - Top patio view
August 2023 Walkthrough 62 - top patio view
August 2023 Walkthrough 63 - top patio view
August 2023 Walkthrough 64 - top patio view
August 2023 Walkthrough 65 - top patio view
August 2023 Walkthrough 66 - top patio view
August 2023 Walkthrough 67 - top patio view
August 2023 Walkthrough 68 - top floor looking back at collaborative lab spaces.
August 2023 Walkthrough 69 - view from office on top floor
August 2023 Walkthrough 70 - view from office on top floor
August 2023 Walkthrough 71 - mechanical penthouse
August 2023 Walkthrough 72 - mechanical penthouse looking toward exhaust vents
August 2023 Walkthrough 73 - building exhaust vents on mechanical penthouse level
August 2023 Walkthrough 74 - Building Manager, Chris, standing with HVAC vents
August 2023 Walkthrough 75 - next to building exhaust vents
August 2023 Walkthrough 76 - mechanical penthouse
August 2023 Walkthrough 77 - mechanical penthouse
August 2023 Walkthrough 78 - mechanical penthouse
August 2023 Walkthrough 79 - electrical panels in mechanical penthouse
August 2023 Walkthrough 80 - mechanical penthouse
August 2023 Walkthrough 81 - stairwell from mechanical penthouse to roof.
August 2023 Walkthrough 82 - HVAC units
August 2023 Walkthrough 83 - mechanical penthouse
August 2023 Walkthrough 84 - Astronomy observation tower on the roof of GCRB
August 2023 Walkthrough 85 - Astronomy observation tower on the roof of GCRB
August 2023 Walkthrough 86 - Astronomy observation tower on the roof of GCRB
August 2023 Walkthrough 87 - View from roof
August 2023 Walkthrough 88 - View from roof
August 2023 Walkthrough 89 - View from roof
August 2023 Walkthrough 90 - View from roof
August 2023 Walkthrough 91 - View from roof
August 2023 Walkthrough 92 - View from roof
July 2023 Drone Flyover
January 2023 Drone Flyover
August 2022 Drone Flyovers
First MegaPad Use
July 2022 Walkthrough of GCRB Construction Site
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May 2022 Walkthrough of GCRB Construction Site
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March 2022 Drone Flyover
2021 Construction Progress
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Groundbreaking Ceremony
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Groundbreaking
Design Drawings
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