Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building
The Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building on Iowa State University’s campus is an 80,000-square-foot facility designed to support the growth of the industrial engineering program by adding lecture halls, labs, research spaces and faculty offices. Baker Group provided mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, access controls, and site utility services on this project, with site utility work carefully planned to align with constrained site access and ongoing campus operations, within the project’s tight footprint. The building’s mechanical and plumbing systems featured a campus-integrated steam heating system. This unique approach converts steam into usable building heat, which is efficiently routed through a prefabricated vertical shaft rack that also distributes cooling and plumbing services throughout the facility. HVAC systems were designed and installed to navigate limited space and a complex schedule, including coordinating a large air handler unit installation later in the project’s construction phase. Access controls provide a secure, modern learning and research environment.
This project required careful planning of logistics, scheduling, and design to overcome the limited laydown space, tight clearances, and complex installations. A major key innovation on the project was the installation of the 70-foot prefabricated shaft piping rack that delivers heating, cooling, and plumbing services throughout the facility. By shifting a major assembly off-site, Baker Group’s prefabrication capabilities reduced congestion, improved safety, and accelerated installation. In addition to the advanced design of the shaft piping rack, Baker Group incorporated pre-assembled brackets for variable air volume (VAV) systems that support piping and valves. This approach reduced labor and material handling while improving consistency and quality across the project.
Baker Group also played a dynamic role in a design-assist capacity for this project, collaborating closely with engineers and project partners to refine systems and improve constructability throughout the process. This integrated delivery approach enabled faster decision-making and stronger coordination across all stakeholders. By staying true to the commitment to “do what we say we are going to do”, Baker Group delivered on its promise to Expect the Best®, helping bring a high-performance facility to life while advancing standards for prefabrication and collaboration on complex projects.
Shaft Piping Rack Assembly & Install