Pengcheng Laboratory Park Phase 1

Shenzhen Pengcheng Laboratory is a national-level scientific research project. The goal is to provide an intelligent laboratory platform for interdisciplinary research, integrating core scientific research projects. Phase one of the schemes’ wider masterplan will manifest in circa 436,500sqm of laboratory space incorporating a series of research spaces, with accompanying recreation, dining, sports and social facilities. The brief is to design a space which promotes social interaction between the researchers who will occupy the site. In order to do this, our plans are to position social amenity spaces at the heart of the scheme, complemented by a series of elevated connected walkaways which navigate the terrain and the internal movement to allow connectivity and fluidity when passing through. This part of the development will be split into three main sections, the northern campus, the southern campus, and the central social hub with VIP conference facility and a focal sculptural element. The social hub can be seen as the heart of the overall design, defined by a series of low rise structures and pavilions accommodating the primary amenity support spaces for the development. The low rise structures are articulated with a series of shaded colonnade structures and lightweight façade screens to filter the daylight into the amenity spaces. The southern campus accommodates the tallest structure of the MLP within this area – the 150m high academic tower. The academic exchange centre is connected to the primary conference facilities also located along the southern edge of the site. The main living spaces are also within the southern campus pushed against the steep hill in the west so residents can enjoy the amenity of the surround green landscape. The northern campus accommodates the largest area of research spaces, a series of 9 research groups are located in 3 x 10 storey ‘u-shaped’ research buildings – the concept of each of these structures is to provide good daylight and natural ventilation via a 24m wide floorplate. The ‘U shape’ - places atrium spaces at the centre of the building accommodating shared collaboration and meeting spaces, integrated with external garden spaces facing the green hill within the centre of the site. The overall identity of the design integrates a series of shaded colonnade spaces which provide protection to the researchers as they move through the campus. The façade systems to the buildings provide a level of solar shading and incorporate natural ventilation through integrated vertical elements. The design has carefully considered the challenging terrain of the site and surrounding context: The level difference from east to west of the site is nearly 30m. In order to create an easy accessible campus and at the same time retaining the existing terrain, the 16,000sqm elevated corridor is designed to link through the different program areas at different levels, providing a pleasant and ecological pedestrian environment. The green pathway of landscape design makes full use of the surrounding mountain resources and unifies with the elevated walkway system to form a series of dynamic, open and comfortable spaces to enhance researchers’ communication.