Chemical and biotechnology company DSM is a leader in innovative knowledge economy and is investing heavily in the coming years in new developments and R&D facilities. Cepezed has designed the masterplan for the rearrangement of the Delft location, drawn up the building programme for the new Lab 6 at this plant and also conceived the design for this laboratory building. The masterplan includes a reconfiguration of the circulation routes and also a reorganization of functions. The new configuration focuses mainly on creating possibilities for expansion in the future and an optimally efficient use of the zone for which a permit has been granted for operations in a higher environmental category.
The new Lab 6 replaces the current Beijerinck laboratory that dates from 1984 and is by now too small and out-dated; it does not meet the requirements and preferences of this day and age in various respects. It occupies circa 13,425 m² gfa with offices and laboratories in the category ML1 and higher. The building will be given a place in the continuation of the Food Innovation Centre and Wetering office on the site, with which the lab works closely in functional terms; it will also be physically connected in the future.
Lab 6 has been designed to be as clean-lined and compact as possible and is characterized by a sharp division between the office and laboratory functions. The building has a structural design with large spans, so that the floor slabs have the least number of columns possible and can be arranged extremely flexible. The heart of the building is reserved on the laboratory side for a stabilizing core containing shafts and building services, flanked by functions such as storage and equipment areas, which do not require much natural light. On the office side, the building’s centre contains an atrium that includes a fully glazed panorama lift.
To allow employees to enjoy a large incidence of daylight, the workspaces have been organized along the vertically articulated façades with an open-closed ratio of 2:1 and floor-toceiling glass. The large free height of no less than 3.20 metres also contributes to the capture of natural light. At places where the preference is for less daylight due to specific research being carried out, the open-closed ratio is 1:1. In addition, cleanly detailed interior sun shades combined with air extraction have been integrated into the façade.
