September 22, 1999

Nolan W. Watson, McLellan & Copenhagen

By SAM BENNETT
Journal Staff reporter

Nolan W. Watson

Nolan W. Watson

Firm: McLellan & Copenhagen
Office: 1402 Third Ave.
Year founded: 1989
Staff size: 9
Recent local project: University of Washington School of Fisheries

Q: What does your firm do?

Our business is advanced scientific and laboratory planning. We're a consulting firm, so the bulk of our business is in laboratory planning and design. However, the emerging part of our business is program management. Although we're a small firm, we provide leadership for much larger projects by assembling teams of architectural and engineering firms, such as the work we did with Teledesic. In this particular project, we brought together nine different firms to program all of their "earth stations." It was an unusual project, requiring the conventional disciplines as well as atmospheric sciences.

Q: What projects are you particularly proud of?

A: Our piece de resistance is the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. We were instrumental in developing the laboratories and support facilities for the center in 1992. One of the things we were instrumental in was using a unique structural mechanical system called "interstitial space." It's basically a mechanical system in a horizontal shaft above the functional floor. It's a method of organizing building systems, for ease and accessibility in maintenance. In the traditional building, all the maintenance and alterations occur in the laboratory itself. In the interstitial space, maintenance work can go on without interrupting the scientists' work because all the work occurs in the insterstitial space.

With Central Washington University's Biology/Chemistry Building, McLellan & Copenhagen provided programming and laboratory design services.

At the present time we're finishing up a very large strategic plan for Washington State University's College of Agricultural Sciences. We are assisting them with their academic and research plan and identifying long range goals for the new initiative in the division of Plant Sciences. Our strategy is to benchmark their programs against peer institutions. As a result, we're working with the faculty and administration trying to stimulate their interest in looking beyond the obvious and just replacing programs in-kind. In a sense we're looking at the future of plant sciences, which is becoming a multi-disciplined approach more in tune with ecological and whole systems as opposed to a narrow specific discipline.

Another project we're proud of is the Central Washington University Phase I Biology/Chemistry Building. This project started out simply to renovate an existing building. Our analysis of this building resulted in a report recommending against renovation due to the fact that the structure would not support modern research and teaching methodologies. As a result of this study, CWU went back to the Legislature and justified a new building. What we're pleased with is we were able to work closely with the client to identify the deficiencies of the old building in order to support the justification of building a new science complex.

Q: Is your use of interstitial space considered controversial in some design camps?

Central Washington's Biology/Chemistry Building houses the laboratories which McLellan & Copenhagen designed.

A: There is a long-standing debate over the cost-effectiveness of interstitial space. In fact, the bottom line is that the interstitial process reduces construction time by as much as 25 to 30 percent, thus saving project money. In addition, there is a tremendous savings if you approach it from a 20-year life-cycle cost model.

Q: How do you stay abreast of recent scientific breakthroughs and how do they affect your approach to projects?

A: The major thing is the quality of my clients who are on the cutting edge of research as well as maintaining an interest in current scientific periodicals. In addition, I've been on the board of directors of the Prince William Sound Science Center in Cordova, Alaska. The science center has developed a whole systems approach to defining the Sound ecosystems. As a result of this research, they have developed a "predictive" computer model that balances sustainability with resource extraction. As a member of the board, we constantly review the research proposals and research progress of the resident scientist in Cordova. As a result of this, I'm obligated to keep informed.

Q: How did you reach this point in your career?

The firm won the 1994 Laboratory of the Year Award from R&D Magazine for its laboratory design in Phase I of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

A: I spent 30 years at the University of Washington Health Sciences complex and over that 30 years had three major careers. One as a technical assistant in the Physiology Department as an undergrad, and then a research associate in the Primate Center studying the cardiovascular system. And then I went into basic sciences teaching and then teaching support to facilities management. As a consequence of that, I was attracted to scientific facilities design and management. That was what launched me into this profession.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your field?

A: Two things. I love to see people achieve success and love to assist them with that process. I love to see people use buildings I've been involved with. To me, their success is my success. I revel in their success. That's where I get my kicks.

Previous columns:

• Alexander Kimball, Kimball, P.C., a division of Mulvanny, 09-15-1999
• Alice Nguyen, Davis Langdon, 09-08-1999
• Tom Holz, SCA Engineering, 09-01-1999
• Andre Studenny, Hamilton Engineering, 08-25-1999
• Peter S. Hockaday, MBT Architecture, 08-18-1999
• Brian Brand, Baylis Architects, 08-11-1999
• Bill Fuller, Fuller/Sears Architects, 08-04-1999
• John Boileau, John Boileau Architects, 07-28-1999