Biomedical research. Robotics. Cybersecurity. When Northeastern University set out to build one of the most advanced science and engineering centers in the country, they demanded equally innovative thinking from their design and construction partners.
NELCO played a key role by designing a unique hybrid RF enclosure for a research lab in Northeastern’s new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC). At the recent grand opening, Senator Elizabeth Warren called the facility “a true temple of science.” She was joined at the event by Senator Ed Markey, U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy III, and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh.
“This represents another big success for our organization,” said Rick LeBlanc, President and CEO of Boston-based NELCO Worldwide and graduate of Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. “Our team created a custom solution for equipment that students and faculty will rely on for research that can change people’s lives.”
A Custom Hybrid System with Isolation at its Core
The RF-shielded enclosure was designed for a Siemens 3.0T MRI system. The enclosure that NELCO engineers created is a custom hybrid system with modular-panel walls and ceiling, along with a copper-epoxy floor system.
“We developed specialized experimental-panel penetrations to facilitate use for the Northeastern team,” said NELCO’s COO Gary Miller.” The shield incorporates a special isolation elastomer to minimize structural-borne vibrations and noise—it’s quiet, secure, and very, very safe.”
A Big Statement—and Facility—About Research
NELCO worked in tandem on the project with Skanska and Payette, and the 234,000 square foot, boomerang-shaped ISEC was just awarded a Boston Society of Architects Honor Award for Design Excellence. “I know my friends at Northeastern are counting on this complex to raise their profile as one of America’s leading research universities,” said LeBlanc. “We at NELCO are proud to have played our part in such an exciting, important project.”
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