AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Cheshire, United Kingdom

AstraZeneca's requirement was for the provision of 20,000m² of multi-disciplinary laboratories housing 260 cancer research scientists. This was to include a glazed circulation 'street' to link with the existing facilities, promote interaction and provide a focus for the research community.

GERT WINGÅRDH REDEVELOPMENT

The building is the latest stage of a phased £240m site redevelopment master planned by Swedish architect Gert Wingårdh. Occupying a prominent position in a former car park, the building had to comply with strict local authority restrictions to protect the Cheshire parkland setting. This in turn reduced floor-to-floor heights, which impacted severely on the engineering services.

The building is organised as two five-storey laboratory blocks linking onto a roof glazed street in a classic 'spine and rib' configuration. There is a new main entrance and a reception between the two blocks.

The new glazed street incorporates a basement services spine and the roof is structurally separated from and integrated with an existing office block which is parallel to the street.

OFFICE AND LABORATORY DESIGN

The street and the refurbished offices are a single compartment while the new laboratories are separate compartments. This allows the street to be as open as possible and allow a variety of meeting rooms and other interaction areas within it.

The street itself has the same stone floor finish that is used externally for elevations and the plaza. The upper level circulation galleries are in a matching colour and tone of terrazzo.

The laboratory blocks and their rooms are presented as a stone-faced monolith. Glazing and louvers are organised as a curtain wall plane set in front of the stone box. The solidity of the stone is emphasised by the corner slot windows set back from the stone face.

Chemistry laboratories are located on the top floor of the laboratory wings, which have a studio like atmosphere due to the absence of suspended ceilings. Adjacent write-up areas are separated from the laboratories by a glass wall, minimising the visual disruption of the space. The fume cupboards have been specially developed for a high degree of flexibility, with easily reconfigured internal dividers and height adjustable work surfaces.

The building was designed and constructed via an alliancing system. Architects Stephenson-Bell were responsible for the entrance and linking spine components.