Project
Summary
INTEC Group has been a partner to EMD Serono for many years and was brought on to this project as the interior design team and consulting design architect. The Horizon building is the newest building on the growing EMD campus and an additional link that enhances connectivity amongst the other buildings on the property. The amenity-focused, mixed-use building was designed and dedicated to the advancement of scientific research; Horizon is the embodiment of HOPE – a tangible manifestation of the “why” behind EMD’s global mission.
Project Goals
- Achieve a balance of science with emotion
- Find ways to thread the intangible notion of “HOPE” into the design through physical manifestations
- Blur the lines of nature and the built environment.
- Bring science to the forefront and showcase lab spaces.
- Create an environment that promotes social and campus connection.
Design Concept
Catalyst
Catalyst is a scientific-based noun defined as:
- A substance that enables a chemical reaction to occur faster or under different conditions and
- An agent that provokes a change or action.
Just as EMD aims to be a catalyst in the realm of sciences for life, this building would serve as a catalyst for cutting edge research, integration of nature and creating human connection to the campus.
Project Solutions
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The front façade of the building serves as a beacon for those approaching the campus. It provides a glimpse into the four stories of the building, as well as the lower and upper concourses, sparking a sense of curiosity to those visiting for the first time.
The Hope Garden, featuring the custom designed Hope Sphere, is prominently located near the building’s front entrance. Designed to echo the building’s architecture, the sculpture represents human connection and global reach and serves as a daily reminder of EMD’s mission, encouraging staff to find hope to offer patients as they contribute to the research and development of potentially life-saving drugs and treatments.
The monumental stair on the lower concourse serves as the terminus point for those walking from the visitor entrance and is a primary pathway that leads one throughout the building, past catalyst zones referred to as collision points. The building was designed to bring employees together via these collision points which are intended for social interaction, spontaneous conversations, and collaborations – types of synergies known for sparking innovation.
The Servery, designed to seat 45 for dining, invites single users or larger groups to the café-style tables, banquettes, and booths. The variety of heights mimic an undulating landscape, while appealing to different end users. Many tables are moveable to allow this space to transition into a lecture-style layout for educational presentations or celebrations.
The pink, sculptural Membrane mounted on the wall along the length of the concourses spaces is an abstract representation of one of EMD’s main brand elements – synthetic cells (hexagon shapes joined by threads) which comes together as a series of frames and pleated triangular pillows that link together to represent DNA strands. The layers unite nature with science, serving as a sculptural screen with acoustical properties while visually connecting the concourse spaces.
A prominently used corridor brings science to the forefront by showcasing the lab space (and work that traditionally happens behind closed doors) to those walking by and other end users working in the open office area across the way.
Biophilic design principles (i.e. patterns) are used to connect occupants to the natural environment and play a large part in WELL. Five dominate biophilic patterns used in this project design’s include:
- Visual connection to nature
- The presence of water
- The use of biomorphic forms that reflect fractals and geometries found in nature
- Prospect: experienced in nature when you climb to the top of a mountain ridge and overlook the land beyond
- Refuge: when you’ve settled in safe place with your back protected.
This view highlights the design execution of “Prospect and Refuge” in the upper concourse. One can choose to work from a 3rd floor overlook or sit in one of the many lounge vignettes on the 2nd floor which were curated for both heads down work or social and casual interactions.
Ground Floor: Visitors are welcomed to the EMD Serono campus on the Ground Floor and greeted by the sculptural the Hope Garden before being pulled through the building by the Membrane. This journey bypasses the campus café before directing visitors upwards on a grand stair.
1st Floor: Staff and visitors collide in an active space that allows them to continue their journey upwards or to one of two buildings directly connected to the 1st floor. Visitors will be able to see into lab and office spaces or continue to a space for reflection in the adjacent building.
2nd Floor: The 2nd floor opens to a 33’ tall space that hosts a variety of spaces for informal or social meetings while being interrupted by spaces for formal gatherings along which the Membrane continues. The 3rd floor overlooks this grand gallery from balconies and additional formal meeting spaces (3rd floor not shown).
