McGill University's McIntyre Pavilion is a cutting-edge medical research and teaching facility. Built 50 years ago, this 16-story, 30 000 m² (320,000 ft²) building was in need of major renovations (about $25 million). In addition to replacing the McIntyre Pavilion's electromechanical infrastructure, the designer's mandate included upgrading building facilities to meet current bio-safety standards, in particular the laboratories in the Infectious Diseases and Biochemistry departments.