A multisensory and experiential school that educates students who have learning difficulties, the Lab School is viewed as a laboratory not only for learning but for construction as well. The project was one of the first in the country to use a robotic mason. The robot, SAM100, lays brick four times faster than a human, according to the project team.

“While SAM was on site, the team tracked the production break down into subcategories: 1) overall production versus the baseline schedule; 2) hourly production based on outside conditions; 3) historical production rate for manpower versus the use of robotics,” the award submission states. 

SAM100 helped build the 29,000-sq-ft addition, which includes laboratories, expandable classrooms, administrative offices and a roof terrace. The cast-in-place concrete structure has deep foundations and post-tension slabs. An elevated pedestrian bridge was constructed to connect the new building to the existing campus. The addition is expected to earn LEED Silver certification, thanks to features such as a green roof and stormwater bioretention ponds.

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