Decoding Cardiff University’s Institute of Cancer and Genetics
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Cardiff University Institute of Cancer and Genetics School of Medicine
Cardiff
Architecture, Digital Construction, Visualisation
This purpose-built laboratory, spanning approximately 1,500 square meters, is home to Cardiff University’s Cancer and Medical Genetics research groups. The facility provides state-of-the-art research laboratories, office support and meeting rooms for staff and students.
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During collaborative sessions with the University’s research groups, we talked about and refined the brief, planning the building layout. Recognising the need for improved productivity, we designed and integrated write-up workstations into the laboratory worktops.
As well as functional labs and support areas, we introduced common rooms and meeting spaces, providing researchers with a dedicated area to step away from the research environment for reflection and collaboration.
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The building’s form and façade were carefully designed in response to the surrounding context. Given its proximity to neighbouring homes, we softened the western end with a conical shape, connecting with the more rectangular form of the laboratories with the main entrance in between.
The cone, with its pre-patinated zinc cladding, draws attention to and establishes the entrance to the building. This architectural feature houses meeting rooms, a library and common rooms.
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Beyond functionality, the colour-coded solar shading fins serve a dual purpose – minimising summer heat gains and representing the gene sequence of a portion of the TSC2 gene. This ground-breaking discovery by genetic researchers at Cardiff University Each of its four DNA bases is represented by a different colour, transforming the building into a living testament to the institute’s achievements.
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“We are settling in nicely and it is by far the best building on this campus, inside and out. ”
Professor Julian Sampson
Director, Institute of Medical Genetics at Cardiff University
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