3XN Selected to Design “Forskaren” - A New Health and Life Science Innovation Center in Stockholm
Following a rigorous design competition process, 3XN has been selected to design "Forskaren," an innovation center for health and life science companies. The 24,000 m2 building will contain work environments for both established and start-up companies; restaurants that inspire guests with forward-thinking cuisine; cafes; and an exhibition area that disseminates the latest life science research. Forskaren is designed with the highest sustainability standards in mindand will pursue LEED Platinum certification.
Forskaren is being developed by Swedish real estate development company Vectura Fastigheter.
”We are very pleased with 3XN’s concept,”says Micael Averborg, Business Development Manager at VecturaFastigheter. “We are thrilled that the design lives up to the vision that Forskaren should be an innovation partner for life science and health.”
Forskaren will become a part of Hagastaden, located between the Karolinska University Hospital and the old Stockholm city hospital. This new district will blend world-class research in health, life science and treatment – complete with housing, a new subway station, green recreation areas and amenities.
Forskaren will play a crucial role in attracting the best talents in health and life science. The building will act as a generator for Swedish research, where exhibits inspire young people to see the exciting opportunities that lie within the field of life science. It will also be a place where new and established companies gain inspiration in laboratoriesand workshops, while also enjoying amenities such as a shared canteen.
A Future-Minded Building
Both the characteristic round shape and central Hagastaden location of Forskaren make the building a natural gathering point in the new district.The building's publicly accessible amenities and surrounding square are designed to be catalysts for new life in the area.
The overall design concept is to create a building that is open, inviting and easy to navigate. Light, tactile materials such as wood, natural stone, concrete and glass are used both inside and out. For the exterior, wooden slats provide a rhythmic accent to the building, creating a dynamic façade that emphasizes the circular design.At the entrance, the façade transitions to glass, offering a transparent and invitingglimpse inside for passers-by.
”Forskaren is a very ambitious project,” says Jan Ammundsen, Partner in Charge and Senior Partner at 3XN. ”The building will serve as a landmark of its central location, where it will interact with the city and create new collaborative environments. In addition, sustainability is front and centre and the building will provide optimal daylight, social zones and green settings for those working within.”
Inside, the atrium features a distinctive spiral staircase;an atrium; open andinviting ground floor workplaces; interactive exhibition areas; restaurants; and publicly accessible cafes. Here, staff and public can meet, enjoy a cup of coffee, and viewfeaturedhealth and life science displays which result from work done in-house.
Tenants may choose to rent one or more floors, or simply take advantage of the atrium-adjacent co-working spaces that tie the building together vertically. Each floor boasts its own "laboratory" which can be used by both permanent and co-working tenants. The researchers' restaurants are also connected to the building's overall purpose and will serve gastronomic experiences created with sustainability, health and climate in mind.
Sustainable Design
Forskaren is designed to pursue the highest standards of sustainability and aspires to become LEED Platinum certified. To this end,several sustainable solutions are put in place. Rooftop solar panels integrate with other building systems including ventilation, heating, and cooling thus ensuring effective use of generated solar energy. Additionally, rainwater is collected and filtered by plant roots and then stored in a greywater system. This filtered rainwater can then be used for watering plants and flushing toilets. In the summer, the building is cooled by the earth. The ground beneath the building is used for thermal energy storage; a heat pump cools circulating water resulting in a cool indoor climate.
