The UGA Riverbend Research Building is a specialized vivarium facility designed to support research involving live animals in a highly controlled environment. Construction began in May 2024 with civil demolition, grading, and early plumbing and electrical work. Severe weather—including hurricane storms followed by freezing temperatures—posed early challenges, making site stabilization critical to maintaining progress and keeping the project on schedule.

As a vivarium, the building required specialized HVAC systems to tightly control temperature, humidity, air quality, and room pressurization to meet animal care and research standards. Each space was designed to maintain either positive or negative pressure, and all major HVAC systems were built with full redundancy to ensure uninterrupted operation. This resulted in an unusually high concentration of mechanical equipment housed in the mezzanine and required extensive coordination and detailed air balancing.

The final phase of the project involved close collaboration with the design team to deliver a fully operational research facility. UGA issued a $300,000 change order to complete the remaining scope required for owner move-in, including integrating existing AHUs into the new building automation system. The upgraded controls allow UGA to monitor and manage all equipment remotely, providing maximum reliability, precision, and long-term operational control.