Digital Precision

The four-storey building takes the form of a large rectangular volume organized around a central atrium that extends vertically, with research laboratories arranged along its perimeter. A double-height laboratory at one end visually anchors the design, while an auditorium at the other end marks the entrance. Glass-walled office spaces and terraces at various levels overlook the atrium, giving the space a sense of activity and openness. The spatial design balances open and collaborative spaces with private research and laboratory areas. As Tobias Wallisser, Partner at LAVA, explains, “We applied the Pareto principle to the layout: 80% of the space is dedicated to efficient, modular research labs, while the remaining 20%—the central atrium—holds the complexity: a central atrium that connects spaces, encourages communication, and provides a sense of relation and scale to the building.”

Designing for a subtropical region, where temperatures regularly exceed 40°C in summer, required a strategy to minimize heat gain and direct sunlight while maximizing daylight inside. LAVA achieved this through a design that mimics a “cooler box,” showcasing Sipchem’s material and technologies through a highly efficient and insulative façade. The exterior of the building is clad in a one-meter-deep layer of polystyrene that has been CNC-milled to create a distinctive sculptural form that is articulated with a non-repetitive pattern of recessed window openings.

LAVA employed this material in an unconventional manner thanks to Sipchem’s expertise in the production of the polymer adhesive that binds them. This collaboration allowed for a greater understanding of the material’s behavior under wide temperature variations, ensuring its long-term performance and resilience against potential cracking.

The undulating shape was guided by performance simulations of radiant heat, shading, and light reflection, which informed a parametric design process. This process continually refined the façade to balance global sun-shading strategies with localized adjustments for window placement. Recessed into the polystyrene, the windows are positioned where light is needed most inside the building, allowing natural light to shape the experience of the interior. The shading system responds to the sun’s path throughout the day, offering protection from direct sunlight while allowing for natural ventilation and light flow. This strategy echoes the approach of the KACST Innovation Tower, where the façade blocks direct sunlight and reflects light to optimize daylighting and temperature control within the highrise. “The design process for this project was quite sculptural—subtractive rather than additive,” explains Wallisser. “The geometry evolved in response to performance data, with digital tools enabling refinements that would be impossible to achieve by hand. It was a process of continuous iteration, where the design is as much about what you remove as what you add.”