Project Details
Client: NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC. Beloit, WI
Size: 32,300sf
Services: Architecture, Bidding, Civil Engineering, Design, Engineering, Structural Engineering, Surveying
NorthStar Radioisotopes, LLC is a nuclear medicine technology company committed to providing the United States with stable, domestic, and environmentally friendly radioisotope supply solutions to meet the needs of patients and advance clinical research.
PSBA, Inc. was selected by Corporate Contractors, Inc. as their design partner for this design build project to expand NorthStar’s production facility.
NorthStar utilizes electron accelerators for irradiation and associated shielding which require special foundations to carry these unique loads. Safety and security protocols required access control to be linked to process controls, prohibiting access to the production space while accelerators are in operation. Additional radiation controls included hardened separations between radiation area and non-radiation area, as well as a clean room allowing employees to safely move between the two areas.
The facility includes proprietary radiation shielding, utilization of positive and negative pressures to mitigate radiation movement, as well as locker rooms to accommodate changing in and out of protective equipment. Support areas included Radiation Management Lab, Assembly Lab, Control Room, Air lock, Maintenance facility, Training Facility, Tank Farm, office, and collaboration space.
Civil Engineering
PSBA provided full site and civil engineering services for this project. Tasked included Stormwater collection and management design, erosion control and creation of a pollution prevention plan, pavement design, exterior lighting, access control & signage, landscape and ADA planning.
The site plan had to account for 3 more planned additions and meet the stringent storm water quality requirement for the State of Wisconsin. The stormwater management was able to take advantage of previously developed wetland and detention pond to assist the required stormwater quality control. Other BMP’s such as vegetative filter strips, infiltration basins and landscape plan designed to promote infiltration completed the stormwater management plan.
The Pollution Prevention Plan was designed in accordance with Wisconsin DNR – Field Guide and addressed site stability, grading practices, final grading, maintenance of bmp’s, construction access, as well as roles and responsibility of the contractor and sub-contractors. Upon completion of the final grading and erosion control a landscape plan meeting the local planting requirements was developed along with mulching and landscaping rock for reduced maintenance facility.