17.59 LOO
In a classic suburban fabric of heterogeneous architectural objects, the project is an extension of an existing qualitative laboratory and office building from the late 1990s.
Located on the site of GENFIT, a pharmaceutical laboratory in the suburbs of Lille, the project, named UP3, complements the existing UP1 and UP2 office buildings, all connected by a linear circulation system to the administrative buildings and laboratories. In order to respond to GENFIT's current rapid growth, it was proposed to build two 600 m2 office floors, 120 m2 of meeting rooms and an atrium with relaxation areas linked to a cafeteria.
An extension with a resolutely contemporary architecture announces that the rapid evolution of GENFIT also involves a rejuvenation of its image and heritage. The industrial character of the project site implies a very great attention to security (intrusion, visibility from the outside, acoustics).
According to industrial architectural logic, and within a tight schedule, the architects designed a building with a metal frame. The sandwich panel infills and anodised sheet metal cladding are reminiscent of the industrial world, with the advantage of a very fast implementation and short supply times. The circular shape makes it possible to solve execution problems by generalizing a cutting principle, concentrating on the architectural quality of the assemblies.
This new extension instead of a central distribution proposes a concentric organization comprising three elements, from the center to the periphery: the Atrium, the Ring and the Open Space. All the service spaces (sanitary facilities, VDI and CTA premises) are located in the « bridge building » at the junction with the existing building.
Atrium :
The atrium is augmented by generous circulation spaces, which become informal meeting places for researchers. Overhung by a circular glass roof bathing the whole in natural light, it is also the new place where the company is represented at institutional events.
Ring :
The Ring, made up of 12 multifunctional spaces of 10m2, is open onto the atrium through acoustic curved glass walls. These rooms can be closed for leisure by a system of curtains connected to a home automation system that can configure the room for different uses (quiet place / meeting / brainstorming / well-being).
Open Space :
For an almost infinite flexibility, the office floors located on the outer periphery are delivered in open-space of 300m2 per level, divisible at leisure into 7 compartments by mobile acoustic partitions that can be stored in just a few minutes in a central piece of furniture. Each of these compartments can be divided into 3 offices, simply with removable partition panels. The perforated aluminium cladding diffuses a homogeneous and soft light into the office spaces.
