Abstract:
AFTER APPROACHING THE PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL CONCEPTS, A HORIZONTAL LADDER FORM WORKED BEST TO ACCOMODATE THE PROGRAM AND ALLOW FOR EASY GROWTH. THIS LADDER FORM WAS FORMED BY GROUPING UNITS OF SIMILIAR SQUARE FOOTAGE AND SERVICE SO AS TO ALLOW THE UNITS TO CONVERT FROM ONE FUNCTION TO ANOTHER. GROUPING THE UNITS BY SIMILIAR DIMENSION GAVE A CONSISTANT AND SIMPLE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM. ONE SIDE OF THE LADDER ACTS AS A RECEIVING CORE WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE LADDER ACTING AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE CORE. THE RUNGS OF THE LADDER ARE MADE UP OF SIMILIAR LAB UNITS AND EXPANDABLE OFFICE SPACE. THE SPACE BETWEEN THESE RUNGS IS USED AS VEGETATED COURTYARDS SUPPLYING NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION AS DESIRED. THE BUILDING HAS A TRANSPARENT NATURE WITH THE INTERIOR PARTITIONS OF WIRE REINFORCED GLASS ALLOWING VIEWS TO THE OUTSIDE THROUGH TEST TUBE RACKS AND OTHER APPARATUS. THE GLASS IS FIRE PROOF AND CAN BE PAINTED WITH WALL GRAPHICS TO SELECTIVELY SCREEN VISUAL ACCESS. THE ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY THIS KIND OF INTERIOR TIES THE OCCUPANT WITH THE NEIGHBORING UNITS AND THE OUTSIDE COURTS. ONE MAJOR ENTRANCE WAS DESIRED WITH FIRE EXITS INTEGRATED INTO THE BUILDING FACADE. THE BUILDING HAS AN EXPOSED STEEL STRUCTURE WITH CORRUGATED VERTICAL STEEL SIDING BRIGHTLY PAINTED AT ENTRANCES.
