The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC) at CUMC featured on 60 Minutes CBS TV

Image Credits: Pavel Bendov

The recently renovated Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC) at Columbia University Medical Center was featured on 60 Minutes CBS TV.

The October 11th edition of the 60 Minutes CBS TV news program, featured a lead story on COVID-19. It was filmed at the ADARC Lab and highlighted a long interview with Dr. David D. Ho, ADARC’s founding scientific director in the main conference room. The team of scientists working in the BSL-3 lab showed the great importance of this project and the impact that this special lab has for the entire country and global research community.

LERA is very proud of the great effort put forth by the full project team to see this to successful completion earlier this year.

Find the TV segment here (Scan to [2:05] for this story): https://www.cbsnews.com/video/60minutes-2020-october-11/#x

Completed in 2020, working alongside architect Lord Aeck Sargent, LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA) provided structural engineering services for the 25,000-sf (2,300-sm) renovation of The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC) at Columbia University Medical Center. The project included a new architecturally exposed stair connecting two floors; reinforcement of existing wind-bent trusses to accommodate the new stair; new rooftop dunnage to accommodate new mechanical fans, HEPA filters and other miscellaneous equipment; supports for new IT/AV equipment and screens at the interstitial floor levels; supports for new pipe chases in existing shafts; and a new, walkable architectural ceiling in the lobby areas.

Research being conducted at ADARC includes the study of COVID-19, and the pursuit of a therapy and vaccine for the virus.