Laboratories designed to inspire

The term 'Cathedrals of the Future' has been coined for the world's most impressive biotechnology complexes which are designed to provide a stimulating working environment for the best scientific minds. The road to discovery needs every assistance it can get to facilitate research and attract top researchers.

The Bio21 Institute is the flagship development in the Bio21 project, strongly supported by the Victorian government. The project draws together 16 leading research institutions including founding members The University of Melbourne, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) to create a hub of research, development and commercial activity.

Bio21 Institute director, Professor Dick Wettenhall says the Bio21 Institute's mission is "improving human health and the environment through innovation in biotechnology and related areas, driven by multi-disciplinary research and dynamic interactions with industry." This vision builds on the extraordinary resources of the university and its Bio21 affiliates in medicine, science and engineering. Professor Wettenhall says the creation of state-of-the-art laboratories with cutting-edge equipment has been the key to the Bio21 Institute's strategy. "This is designed to attract first-class scientists and high-achieving students, to facilitate the meeting of minds and the engagement with industry, and most importantly to train our young researchers to be future innovators and leaders in the industry."

Melbourne Architects, DesignInc have created two research blocks linked by a shared atrium space which is designed to encourage interaction between differing scientist groups. The project provides a highly flexible and interactive environment to facilitate the changing needs of researchers. Already fitouts have commenced to complete the shell spaces and reconfigure areas with ease. Relationship building is encouraged through the openness of the facade and atrium, visually linking each space of the Institute.

The Bio21 complex also has elements of a 'Research Hotel' where it will be possible for researchers from around Australia and overseas to come to work and interact with the Bio21 community. The 'Research Hotel' concept is a term that has been used in various biotechnology facility models overseas but essentially means researchers in academic or commercial organisations have access to new technologies and access specialised equipment and expertise not otherwise available to them. Scientists can have access to the research community network, IT and library facilities. The world class laboratories with supporting facilities will support this endeavour. By encouraging a mixture of academic research and industrial commercial partners, cross fertilisation of disciplines will engender a stimulating research environment. In the Bio21 context the emphasis is particularly on creating an environment conducive to business with the provision of serviced offices and laboratories for rent from a week to a year. A business incubator next door provides longer term accommodation for start-up companies.

Research scientists and their laboratories are celebrated through the visibility of spaces throughout the precinct. Creativity is encouraged through many opportunities for collision of scientific minds. Circulation routes are generously proportioned with glass walls and selected slots to maximise daylight and offer selected views continuously from one facade through the atrium to the other.

The stunning seven-storey atrium is the core space within the Institute. A variety of sculptural breakout spaces including an internet cafe suspended within the atrium encourages exchange of ideas free of traditional territorial spaces or hierarchical constraints which tend to limit creativity. As well as functioning as meeting spaces, the breakout spaces are also integrated with vertical circulation with cross floor circulation. Fully-glazed lifts and open stairs maximise both daylight and movement between floors.

According to DesignInc's project architect Christon Smith, "One of Bio21's best features is the visibility - we've got transparency and visibility throughout the labs and into the atrium. We tried to celebrate science, and encourage creativity by creating working spaces that are inspiring. With each design element, we tried to solve more than one problem. The bridges across the atrium, for example, are obviously for people circulation, but they also support services between the two buildings, and the facade."

The Bio21 laboratories reverse the typical concept of internalised laboratories. Flexibility and interaction are maximised through large daylit laboratory bench areas on the facade. Perimeter benches are avoided in favour of island benches, allowing researchers to access up to glazing to take in views. Internal support rooms are glazed, allowing science to be experienced by many whilst maximising daylight and OHS performance.

The meeting places throughout the building are located outside of the laboratory zone and are strategically placed. Each meeting place has its own identity, suspended within the atrium or cantilevered off the laboratory blocks and is differentiated by its views, daylighting and privacy.

Core facilities are situated strategically and include the NMR cave, a subterranean vibration sensitive environment, carpark and laser laboratory space in the basement, dangerous goods and bulk stores, loading bay, administration, reception, library and display at ground floor, 200-seat lecture theatre with breakout mezzanine.

The inspiration for the design was the cell, its nucleus and components, interpreted throughout the complex. The nucleus of the project comprises research laboratories, laboratory support and office space. All other components are built, hung, pass through or link the laboratory blocks. This modular approach maximises future flexibility, whilst maintaining core function density.

The building was designed to express the nature of the activities, and to embody the Institute's aspirations of excellence. This image is achieved by expressing some of the services provisions as major design elements in the building. Stainless steel atrium pods suspended in the atrium become a design feature. The pods of differing sizes create sculptural light modulators throughout the atrium. The interaction spaces use lighting, finishes and detailing to reflect the technology and control necessary to progress the research with the Institute.

DesignInc's approach was to resolve all the functional, safety and environmental constraints of the brief and then develop design opportunities shaped by these constraints. The result is comfortable work spaces, use of links and interaction areas to encourage relationships between different groups with laboratory and administration spaces designed to allow reconfiguration. Glazing technologies are used extensively to display biotechnological research.

Laboratories are typically high energy users (particularly with 92 fume cupboards), and strategies were explored and employed to minimise energy consumption and maximise passive design solutions. These strategies include solar shading to each elevation, a naturally ventilated atrium with full night purge capability and zoned and metered systems for air conditioning, lighting and fume cupboards. The high thermal mass of exposed precast concrete also assists in maintaining a stable internal temperature. Abundant daylight and fresh air contribute significantly to a healthy working environment.

The design for Bio21 allows considerable flexibility in the use of the laboratory spaces to meet the needs of a wide range of research groups and to bring them together in a way which will foster synergies between them. For this reason, heavy scientific equipment and mobile bench systems will need to be moved around the building to facilitate changing research programs and encourage sharing of expensive apparatus. Floor and wall finishes have been designed using durable materials where necessary. In-situ precast concrete and concrete blockwork have been extensively used in these areas.

In terms of long life and adaptability, Bio21 contains facilities which necessitate the use of materials, detailing and finishes which can sustain heavy usage and chemical spills. Special consideration has been given to laboratory surfaces to allow them to withstand corrosive spills, should they occur. Similarly, impact and heavy load concentration have been designed for across most areas within the building to provide maximum flexibility.

The Bio21 Institute building recently won the What's New Magazines/Science Industry Australia Laboratory of the year award.

DesignInc Melbourne Pty Ltd
Melbourne Central Tower Level 51, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne 3000