26.5.2011
Institute for Regeneration Medicine Building in San Francisco
La Universidad de California en San Francisco (UCSF), en 2005 llamó a concurso para la construcción de un nuevo laboratorio, el Institute for Regeneration Medicine Building (IRM), cuyo encargo fue adjudicado a Rafael Viñoly Architects. Dado que el edificio iba a estar ubicado en un sitio con fuerte pendiente a los pies del Monte Sutro, el cliente esperaba un edificio organizado en forma vertical, el cual no se hubiera adaptado a las necesidades de funcionamiento del instituto. Partiendo de la idea de que un sistema horizontal era el mejor para la su organización, RVA proyectó el edificio en forma horizontal, a pesar de las dificultades que planteaba el terreno. Las funciones de la planta baja se distribuyen como un laboratorio continuo dividido en cuatro niveles, cada uno de ellos separados por medios niveles a medida que la construcción desciende por la ladera de la boscosa montaña. A su vez, cada nivel está coronado por un grupo de oficinas y un techo verde. Las rampas y escaleras exteriores aprovechan el clima templado del lugar permitiendo una circulación continua entre todos los niveles y conectando el edificio con otro tres centros de investigación cercanos a través de un puente peatonal. La estructura del edificio está sostenida por columnas de acero en voladizo apoyadas sobre pilares de hormigón, lo que minimizó la excavación del sitio y permitió incorporar el aislamiento de base para absorber las fuerzas sísmicas.
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), issued a Request for Proposal in 2005 for a new laboratory, the Institute for Regeneration Medicine Building (IRM), and commissioned Rafael Viñoly Architects for the project after a competitive interview process. The firm was chosen for its range of laboratory experience, the strength of its previous successful work with the university, and the researchers’ belief that the firm would bring the most creative solution to the design challenge. RVA served as the Design Architect, and assisted the Design-Build team of DPR Construction / SmithGroup during construction.
Given that the building was to be located on a steeply sloping site at the foot of Mount Sutro, the client expected a vertical building organization, which might not have been well fitted to the institute’s research needs. Stemming from the belief that a horizontal scheme is best for interior lab organization and for research collaboration, RVA found a way to plan a horizontal building despite the challenging site. The main floor functions as one continuous laboratory divided into four split levels, each stepping down a half-story as the building descends the forested mountain slope, and each topped by an office cluster and a green roof. Exterior ramps and stairs, taking advantage of the temperate climate, provide continuous circulation between all levels, and the facility connects to three nearby research and medical buildings via a pedestrian bridge. The building structure is supported by cantilevered steel columns resting on concrete piers, minimizing site excavation and incorporating seismic base isolation to absorb earthquake forces.
Inside the building, the transitions between the split levels are designed as hubs of activity. Break rooms and stairs located at these interfaces increase the potential for chance interaction, and interior glazing maximizes visual connectivity between the lower labs and the upper offices. To further promote collaboration, the laboratories occupy a horizontal open-floor plan, with a flexible, custom-designed casework system that enables the rapid reconfiguration of the research program. Abundant south-facing glazing fills the open laboratories and offices with natural light and views of the wooded slope of Mount Sutro nearby.
In accordance with university policy, the project will be certified LEED Silver and will follow Labs21 environmental performance criteria. The IRM achieves these sustainability measures most notably with landscaped green roofs that minimize heat island effect, control storm water runoff, insulate the building, and provide an outdoor amenity for occupants.