THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN, PFIZER RESEARCH LABORATORY | Bronx, NY | 28,000 GSF
2006 | Susan T. Rodriguez (Design Partner, Ennead Architects)
Situated within the scientific precinct of the 250-acre New York Botanical Garden, the Pfizer Research Laboratory is the fourth in a series of projects for the International Plants Science Program. The new laboratory is a hybrid space accommodating state-of-the-art scientific research facilities and a graduate studies program. The design of the building is inspired by a desire to bridge the disparate realities of the life of a botanical researcher: fieldwork in remote locations around the world and extensive research in the laboratory. A freestanding building at the northern edge of the Garden, the laboratory marks a transition in the landscape from the developed area of campus to sloped woodland and the Twin Lakes. The entry, a double-height volume, creates a space that extends interior to exterior. A cantilevered terrace overlook, accessed directly from the lobby, provides an opportunity to engage with the surrounding landscape. Organizationally, the new laboratory fosters interaction among scientists, graduate students and technical staff. The first floor houses the conference room, graduate student spaces, storage areas, laboratory support and mechanical equipment spaces. The second floor, the building’s primary level, houses laboratories, offices and student study spaces. A sky-lit corridor provides the primary circulation through the building. Flexible laboratory modules with views overlooking the landscape are visually open to the corridor. The new building establishes an inspirational research environment for scientists and students alike, encouraging collaboration and dialogue.
Awards | Beverly Willis Foundation Award 2015
Photo Credit | Jeff Goldberg | Esto, Aislinn Weidele
