Exploring a contemporary building program, the facility promotes research and development of proprietary software. One of seven centers globally, these facilities function as research incubators - attracting innovative engineers to create cutting-edge software for visionary products. The 6500 sqm facility includes software R&D team centers, labs, conference spaces, and a cafeteria/town hall.
Located within a new technology campus associated with Krakow's 800 year old Jagiellonian University, the site is seven kilometers from Krakow's historic center. The first 'private' institution on this campus, it sits amongst high-profile complexes including the Papal Academy of Theology. The design establishes a dialog with this context through subtle site strategies while preserving existing wetlands and integrating site retention systems.
The three story linear scheme is orientated perpendicular to the arced roadway, which provides a frontal reading when approached from the city. The narrow floor plate ensures users access to daylighting, views and natural ventilation. Work stations held back from the exterior wall encourage circulation and create non-hierarchical space, while amenity spaces and interactive zones are highlighted by shape and location.
The exterior expression implies a creative abstraction of an underlaying rigid order - effectively a metaphor for software. Lifted on pilotis, the glass and aluminum panel volume has a simple formal reading, set above distinctly shaped, shared amenity spaces on ground level. Elevations respond directly to site orientation, limiting exposure on the north and south facades, while east and west elevations control daylighting through sun-shading and controlled apertures.
Awards:
2005 AIA Hong Kong - Merit Award for Architecture
2004 Society of American Registered Architects - Design Honor Award: Architecture
