IDC Architects

Challenge

The WVU Incubator is the first facility on a new research campus whose mission is to encourage technology transfer and the development of basic research into marketable technology. The building is 100 percent speculative, and it had to be designed to accommodate a wide variety of university and non-university tenants as well as different types of labs and research spaces. Potential uses include wet labs for bioscience and chemistry, dry labs for computation and metrology, and low-vibration clean space for nano-scale research.

Investigation

With our consultants, we developed room types and criteria for all the various space types, based on our experience and knowledge of current trends. Additionally, we interviewed a number of "target" tenants in the Morgantown area, from both the university and private sector, and developed "straw man" room of data sheets and layouts for each. We had the site investigated for ambient vibration (it turned out to be a very good site for housing space with vibration-sensitive needs.)

Solution

We generated a series of different planning modules and floor plan arrangements, and then tested each plan concept against the variety of different space types that had to be accommodated. Using brainstorming and rapid prototyping design techniques, we completed this process in minimal time, which resulted in a high degree of client confidence that the final plan was truly flexible for a wide range of scientific and technology-based research. We tested schematics not only on different types of labs, but also on different ratios of office-to-lab and lab-to-lab support. The circulation pathways support the flexible planning and are anchored by a modest atrium that encourages interaction and provides gathering space to support scientific conferences.

Key features we included in this design are:

• A robust structure with features that anticipated future expansion and upgrades
• A flexible mechanical system that can accommodate both biocontainment space as well as clean space, designed to be cost effective and easily upgradeable if needs for intensive space increase over current projections
• Spatial organizations based on flexible planning modules and generous floor-to-floor heights to allow for the space needs of people, equipment, and the distribution of building services