OVO, a Montreal-based fertility clinic, opened the first private umbilical cord blood preservation center in Quebec, in January 2009. The bank employs the cryogenisation process to preserve stem cells found in the tissues surrounding the blood arteries of a newborn’s umbilical cord. According to recent studies the preserved stem cells open the possibility of treatment of certain diseases at the later stages of an infant’s life, should it be required.

Beyond the need to create a space which would meet stringent functional requirements while appealing to its visitors, OVO Bioscience intended to use the design of the clinic to increase public awareness of this leading edge technology and of stem cell research in general. With this in mind, they sought to create an avant-garde, high-tech image for the bank, showcasing the reservoir where the cord blood is stored.