Description
Genetic science increasingly brings together disciplines such as biochemistry, molecular medicine, plant biology, and environmental ecology. This trend manifests itself through the integration of formerly separate sections of the biological faculty within one building.
The site is located at the prominent northeastern corner of the 2.2 ha university campus. It occupies an important location within the city as it is also situated on a main artery and marks the eastern entrance into Liverpool. A main axis of the campus determines the layout of the access route to the new forecourt. The building consists of four orthogonal and three wedge-shaped volumes with four full storeys and a technical floor each. They are arranged in a quarter-circle around the forecourt that is enclosed on three sides. At the northeastern corner, the new facility is linked to a refurbished teaching building with a ”hinge”. The overall complex accentuates its location at the campus corner and creates a unique place with a strong sense of identity.
Apart from the spaces for Biosciences (approx. 8,000 m²) the brief also called for an Innovation Centre (Mersey Bio, approx. 1,800 m²). The centre features its own entrance. It occupies the outer building volume with flexible laboratory areas arranged along a double-loaded corridor on the upper floors and office and service areas on the ground floor. The Biosciences area consists of a total of eight (two per floor) large open plan laboratory zones and four special laboratory zones in the central zone. The large laboratories with a capacity of 40 work places each form the ”home base” for every research team; the special laboratories house shared facilities. The large ”home bases” with open plan labs flank these shared facilities consisting of special equipment laboratories and secondary spaces. Lifts situated in the wedge-shaped building volumes link all levels and encourage a high degree of social interaction and cooperation. Access areas are under surveillance. A linear technical installation core provides flexible and accessible services. Outside the security area of the laboratories, naturally ventilated offices are orientated towards the courtyard. Little bays near the main entrance of the central volume as well as little atrium spaces near both main laboratory entrances on all floors further encourage social interaction between scientists.
The framed steel construction with its horizontally structured metal façades makes the individual building volumes readable and highlights the highly equipped character of the building by means of oversized structures for air-intakes and extracts above the wedge-shaped blocks.
Drawings
Photos
Exterior view of the strictly horizontally structured metal façade
Writing desks allocated to the façades and a glazed curtain wall provide optimal work conditions
Originally published in: Hardo Braun, Dieter Grömling, Research and Technology Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2005.