lab of the
future
Spring — Vienna (A)
A new research and development building is being constructed in Aspern Seestadt in Vienna. On a site spanning 26,000 square meters, 250 researchers will work on new therapies in the fields of oncology and rare diseases.
The aim is to create a leading-edge building dedicated to flexible laboratory and research activities; a building which offers functional and efficient, but also stimulating and enjoyable, modern working environments.
The laboratory areas on the first three floors were designed using an innovative and highly flexible large-scale solution, the so-called “ballroom concept”. Its modular structure enables a flexible laboratory layout which allows for easy accommodation of both current and future development and production processes.
The two office floors are located above the relatively stringent laboratory floors. These require a much smaller building depth than the laboratory floors. For this reason, the office spaces are designed as two intertwined, meandering strips. These strips enter into a dialogue with a lushly landscaped outdoor space which is clearly visible from afar, thus creating a beacon effect. This allows for an attractive, communication-oriented, and diverse usable office landscape with working areas and communication areas indoors and outdoors.
One definite highlight of the construction is its coherent, densely planted outdoor area on the fourth and fifth upper floors. This envelops the building in the shape of a three-dimensional eight and forms a garden approx. 400 m in length via which the building can be circled (walking time approx. 7 min).
More gardens and green areas feature from the ground floor to the third floor, running through/accompanying the entire building in the form of atriums and terraces. These serve as common areas, extensions of the building’s common areas and green spaces. They also represent the spirit of the company, on the ground floor in particular, in the form of a Japanese garden. Also available are a number of common areas, including a foyer, a conference area, a café, and “The Retreat,” a multifunctional area for courses, seminars, recreation, and so on.
Last but not least, the building is expected to become a landmark for the company which will embody the spirit and the identity of the company with its high sustainability standards and its culture of cooperation within the company.
