Location
New York City, USA
Client
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Sector
Life Sciences / Research & Development
Size
39,100 sqm 84 m high
Scope
Architectural Design
Status
Completed, 2014
Located on Manhattan’s East Side overlooking the East River, the Alexandria Center for Life Science – West Tower forms the second major phase of New York City’s landmark commercial life sciences campus. Designed by RMJM, the building expands the research community established by the neighbouring East Tower and contributes to a wider environment conceived to bring together science, enterprise and collaboration within one integrated urban campus.
The West Tower provides approximately 421,000 sq ft of laboratory and office space, specifically designed to accommodate the highly technical requirements of leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and research organisations. Its flexible planning allows laboratory, computational, research and workplace environments to coexist within a building capable of adapting to the changing needs of scientific tenants. Roche was among the major organisations to establish research facilities within the tower.
Architecturally, the building is characterised by a high-performance unitised curtain-wall façade with integrated solar shading, giving the tower a precise and contemporary expression while supporting daylighting and environmental performance. Three vertically articulated glazed volumes help break down the scale of the building, while the transparency of the envelope reflects the collaborative and outward-looking character of the research community within.
At ground level, the West Tower contributes to the landscaped public realm that connects the wider Alexandria Center campus. Rather than operating as an isolated laboratory building, it forms part of a larger life sciences ecosystem in which workplaces, research facilities, amenities and outdoor spaces are brought together to encourage interaction between organisations and disciplines. The East and West Towers together established approximately 728,000 sq ft of life sciences space within the campus.
Completed in 2014, the West Tower forms part of the LEED Gold-certified Alexandria Center campus and has become an important component of New York’s expanding life sciences and research sector. Its combination of technically sophisticated research environments, flexible workplace planning and contemporary architectural expression establishes a strong relationship between scientific innovation and the surrounding city.
