A Building Designed To Nurture Ideas

A Building Designed To Nurture Ideas

University of Washington, MolES and NanoES Buildings

Laboratories and Research

ZGF programmed and designed the two-phased MolES and NanoES Buildings, which together provide critical research space in the field of interdisciplinary molecular engineering considered critical for ensuring future economic, environmental, and medical health worldwide. The buildings were designed to fit within the historic context of the campus core while also reflecting the cutting-edge nature of the research being undertaken.

Location

Seattle, WA

Square Feet

160,000

Completion date

2012

Project Component

Architecture services

Interior design and space planning

The 90,000 SF, LEED GoldĀ® Phase 1 building provides space to support a wide range of wet and dry laboratory uses, including fume hood-intensive chemistry, open plan offices for researchers, faculty offices, and common and support spaces. The design takes advantage of the topography of the site to provide ground and basement level instrumentation laboratories (the largest on the West Coast) with ultra-low vibration and electromagnetic interference requirements, allowing the research laboratories to be above-grade to take advantage of daylight and views. The building is the first laboratory building on campus with a naturally ventilated office component. It also features optimized laboratory ventilation, energy-efficient chilled beams, and two green roofs. The LEED SilverĀ® Phase 2 building provides an additional 70,000 SF of research and collaboration space and includes a significant classroom component.