Biology
Lab University of Amsterdam
The laboratory building housing the
department of Biology at the University
of Amsterdam is part of Amsterdam Science Park,
an international knowledge centre. Sited between two existing university
buildings, the new Biology Lab contains research and teaching laboratories and
workrooms. It stands on stilts to allow traffic into its grounds, though the
entrance tower descends to street level. Aerial walkways are to connect the new
building to its neighbours. The lab building has two levels of usable space
with above these a 'technical' level somewhat detached from the main mass and
housing among other things an extract system for removing noxious fumes. All
vertical technical infrastructure is hidden away in a hollow service wall
slicing through the building from end to end and from top to bottom. The
corridor on the upper floor acts as both a circulation 'artery' and as social
space. Corrugated metal sheet cladding and eye-catching fire escapes lend the
whole an industrial air.
Client
University of Amsterdam
Architect
Benthem
Crouwel Architekten
Gross
floor area
3.015 m²
Start
design
1993
Completion
1995
