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Georgia Tech Krone Engineered Biosystems Building

Georgia Tech’s Engineered Biosystems Building is an innovative new model for research facilities that challenges the silos of traditional laboratory design, creating a system of open lab neighborhoods that foster engagement. A departure from traditional lab design, this “cross-cutting lab” implements continuous working laboratory space running down the spine of the building, with offices and meeting rooms in the wings. Daylight, outdoor views, a water harvesting system, and other biophilic elements used throughout the program encourage interaction. Technology and intelligent design work together to create multi-purpose open spaces with high levels of ecological performance.

In collaboration with Cooper Carry.

Georgia Tech’s Engineered Biosystems Building (EBB) is the cornerstone of a new research district located along a highly visible edge of campus. As a gateway building, EBB engages and activates the primary pedestrian axis through campus, outwardly expresses the innovation of its research programs. A small lobby and café serve as a living room where building occupants engage the broader community. At the center of the district is a restored historic watershed that celebrates low impact development strategies and includes an engineered wetland that filters and stores 100% of the building’s gray water demand and 100% of the district’s irrigation demand. EBB is a model of connectivity and synergy at every scale of design.

An innovative new model for research facilities, EBB challenges the silos of traditional laboratory design by creating a system of highly-adaptable, open lab neighborhoods organized around research themes instead of disciplines. The design leverages connections to the landscape, daylight, and views to encourage collaboration. EBB’s open lab structure facilitates an interactive lab experience through transparency and ease of collaboration. Breakrooms and restrooms bookend open lab neighborhoods on alternating floors to encourage vertical circulation.

Lounges and break-out spaces are strategically located at thresholds to foster engagement both horizontally and vertically. The open floor plan concept and narrow building footprint maximize transparency and unobstructed views across the building while enabling daylight to permeate deeply and effectively. Technology, passive design strategies, and programming work together to improve user comfort and safety while minimizing energy demands, resulting in a 64% energy reduction against standard benchmarks.

Sustainable Design

Building Organization

Labs are typically introverted buildings. The design team pursued a narrow east-west oriented building footprint to maximize interaction between dry and wet lab space while passively mitigating solar heat gain and glare with an emphasis on harvesting daylight and views. The design team carefully considered program placement to ensure the first floor and visible elevations housed the most public and dynamic spaces, showcasing the building’s research and welcoming students to both the building and campus. Lounge areas are strategically located at stairway thresholds to foster engagement both horizontally and vertically.

Sustainable Design

Stormwater & Wetland Design

The EBB site was previously an underutilized greyfield. The building’s footprint was shaped to rejuvenate the site’s natural topography and historic stream bed. The new engineered wetland and stormwater management systems provide the central unifying courtyard for the district. Over three million gallons of water are collected from rain, condensate and foundation dewatering systems a year to supply 100% of the district’s graywater and irrigation demand. Surplus water overflows into an acequia that activates the building’s adjacent landscape.

Sustainable Design

Health & Wellness

The vertically-scaled, narrow building maximizes daylighting penetration and preserves views to northern Midtown across Atlanta. The building program provides maximum daylight to the graduate student office area and the large open research labs, with the smaller support labs flanking the southern edge of the building with smaller windows. The north-facing graduate student offices were heightened to fit into the structural pans to maximize the north daylight into the building.

Sustainable Design

Materials Selection & Energy Reduction

Energy reduction measures started with judicious fenestration design. West-facing windows in support labs were minimized to tiny slits in the brick façade. Perforated metal panels on the west and east facades were used to limit heat gain during summer months but allow for daylight and views. HVAC and structural systems were coordinated to become part of the building aesthetic, minimizing the need for finish materials. The slab was right-sized to use less cement, further reducing material volume and cost.

Laboratory buildings are typically heavy water and energy users . . . the design team managed to show that vast improvements can be achieved through ingenuity and integrated design. Jury

AIA COTE Top Ten Awards