Describes one of the winners of the 1997 ASHRAE Technology Award, a 10-storey, 207,000ft² (19,230m²) medical science research building at the University of Michigan. It accommodates approximately 400 people and includes laboratories, office/conference space and support facilities. Closely integrated, modular systems with a high degree of flexibility are a feature, plus 100% redundancy of all central equipment servicing the animal housing area, redundant temperature controls for each individual animal housing room and accessibility to all items requiring maintenance through an above-ceiling coordination process. Describes the integrated variable airflow laboratory systems which reduces heating and cooling energy, reduces the energy used by the supply and exhaust fans and provides constant fume hood face velocities regardless of the sash position. Notes the high energy efficiency of the mechanical systems.