laboratory architecture
laboratory architecture
laboratory architecture
laboratory architecture
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DTU B130

A research facility in green concrete

"The project visually correlates beautifully with the inside and outside and with the existing buildings in area '1. Kvadrant' at DTU. The building invites you inside and creates a vivid and dynamic experience of the facade."

Says Karin Schou, project leader from DTU, CAS Developer, about the winning project.

New state-of-the-art laboratory at DTU

The state-of-the-art research facility of B130 at the Department of Civil Engineering of DTU – Technical University of Denmark will act as a framework for the department’s research of materials as well as supporting a number of it’s core services. Over two floors, the architecture supports an innovative, interdisciplinary collaboration in both laboratory facilities, workshops and common areas. The research facility is created to be both professionally inviting and to habituate it’s natural surroundings. The outside of the building is anchored in the historical context where the silvery aluminium facade of the research facility discretely challenges the heritage of Koppel. Therefore, there is always a short way from theoretical research to practical experimenting in the test facilities of the building. The state-of-the-art laboratory architecture is a big concrete and material arena with double height ceiling. Here, you can do experiments, cut materials, test their durability and move big elements around with a construction crane installed in the ceiling. Along the walls of the arena are smaller, specialized laboratories, workshops and storage rooms.

An active study environment

The ambition of the building is to support interdisciplinary collaboration and to offer an attractive and stimulating universe for research and learning. Hence, the disposal of the project is based on securing a high degree of openness and transparency – both in relation to the surroundings, where the students and employees can include the outdoor areas for experiments, and within the building where one will be able to view the activities in the workshops and laboratories from the outside.  Furthermore, the workshops and laboratories of B130 will consist of facilities that support research, teaching and innovation of building materials. The building itself is part of the research project on green concrete, where, for the first time ever, a newly developed concrete is used, which saves up to 30 percent in CO₂ emissions.

“The use of this new green concrete unites construction and research in one workflow. This is the first time that we can monitor the new eco-friendly concrete here at DTU and see how it develops over time. And we are also very excited about the construction of another new workshop here at DTU that gives the students unique possibilities for applied research into new building materials.” – Says Jacob Steen Møller, Director of Facilities at DTU.

Together with B128 and B129, completed in 2018, B130 will create a sculptural and workshop inspired spatial whole.

Sustainable ambitions in the laboratory architecture

In the project we have worked with issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the project was not designed to address the global goals. We have worked with issues related to: SDG 3: Good Health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 14: Life below water and SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals.

Client
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Area
2.000 m²
Year
2019
Location
Lyngby Campus, DK
Collaborators
Norconsult, Wessberg, Cubic Group
Images
Movie/ DTU
Users
DTU – Department of Civil Engineering