LS3P

Design Program:
1. Provide flexible office, classroom, lecture, and research spaces to serve as incubators for start-up companies located on a University’s technology research campus.
2. Develop a total building area of 82,000 sf, including 53,000 sf for offices and classrooms, and 22,000 sf of main level, high-bay research labs with vehicular accessibility.
3. Serve as a gateway building, visible from all four sides. The design must express the building’s own identity while complementing both the materials and design elements of its adjacent kindred “north” building, as well as complimenting design elements and materials within the research campus.
4. Obtain LEED Silver certification or greater in accordance with the sustainable principles of the overall campus.
5. Enhance the outdoor connection between the existing “north” buildings and parking infrastructure, while engaging the campus and encouraging pedestrian interaction throughout the research neighborhood.

Solution: Located on a prominent site at the entry of the research campus, the building exhibits a fraternal design palette with the kindred “north” office/research building, yet exhibits a greater level of tectonic intricacy that is in essence folded and layered throughout the exterior façade. Greater importance was placed on transparency and solar screening in order that the advanced technologies can be showcased to the connecting plaza. The building is designed for maximum flexibility to accommodate any variety of academic needs and companies performing applied mobility research. The building design anticipates frequent changes in users of both the office and the lab space. The office and lab areas surround a central core to accommodate changes in accessibility, mechanical systems, the power distribution and data infrastructure. The ground lab areas feature open high-bay space with grade-level access and a full range of utility systems. The exposed multi-floor structural truss framework maximizes open space internally, while creating cantilevered overhangs and exterior balconies that are enmeshed within east facing screen for the creation of shaded exterior display courts to encourage outdoor inactions. The fourth level is smaller, and acts as a penthouse incorporating 2,000 sf exterior eastern roof terrace shaded by a 24 foot roof overhang.

Building Orientation: The orientation of the site allows the building to take advantage of shaded daylighting and views onto the plaza on the north, while striated insulated metal panel walls protect the hot western exposure. In the west façade, the northern bay extends beyond the core and the southern bay to create year round shading. The eastern and southern exposures integrate strategically placed angled vertical mesh panels, to reduce glare, provide shading, and maintain transparency. The high-bay research space on the ground floor is recessed to aid in shading, and incorporates precast concrete wall panels for durability.
Architectural Expression: Following the principles of the campus Master Plan, the architecture expresses the technology focus of the research campus. Several view profiles of the exterior of the building were studied to ensure the new facility would complement the metal, glass and concrete design elements of the nearest buildings, yet not compete with the signature facility located within close proximity. The simplistic form intentionally acts to foil the highly expressive geometry of the ‘signature building.’ The building is bisected from north to south by a 48’ vertical wall that serves for wayfinding and additional shading. The east face of the building, with its projecting sunscreen and balconies, shows lineage to the “north” building and allows the facility to open up and reach out to the ‘main street’ of the campus, where pedestrian activity sets the stage for the informal collaboration that marks the life of this research campus. The shifting and folding planes of the building’s exterior reflect the advance composite construction mythology, and additive processes that are being investigated, and utilized by the buildings researches and students.
Sustainable Design: The project is on track to exceed LEED-CS Silver certification.