ZGF has been working with the University of California, Los Angeles on converting a former hospital building to accommodate state-of-the-art research wet laboratories and associated office functions to support the David Geffen School of Medicine’s research and education programs. As the largest single building located in the 2,400,000 SF Center for the Health Sciences Complex, the 443,387 SF South Tower is physically connected to buildings on all sides, yet is structurally independent. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, damage assessment and engineering studies determined that the 12-story Tower required structural improvements to meet current building codes and standards. The ZGF team was also asked to address the building’s energy efficiency and life safety infrastructure with the ultimate goal of providing a flexible laboratory environment in a cost-effective, functionally efficient building that is seismically safe and sustainable. The double LEED Platinum® renovation was phased to maintain existing operations of lower level medical laboratories. Phase 1 (Interior Demolition and Hazardous Materials Abatement of Levels 2-10), Phase 2 (Interior Demolition and Abatement of Levels B, A, and 1; seismic renovation; and core + shell improvements), and Phase 3 (Basic Tenant Improvements) are completed. The new space provides a “warm shell” for flexible wet laboratory space with interior finishes, but without specific casework and equipment. Phase 4 involved post-occupancy tenant improvements, customizing the generic “warm shell” space on levels two through seven based on research themes per floor to meet specific research needs of the user groups.