As one of the final steps in the centralization of their biobanks by UZ Leuven and KU Leuven, UZ Leuven is building a new facility. Ingenium is responsible for the conceptual design, the technical design, construction supervision, as well as sustainability and EPB aspects.

The freezers scattered throughout the Gasthuisberg campus in Leuven are being consolidated. In addition, the storage of various cryogenic samples is being centralized. In the cryobank, samples are stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at -196°C. A key reason for building the new facility is to ensure the quality of the stored material. The construction of a biobank, including a cryotheque, requires professional equipment and monitoring systems. To this end, an area of 2,500 m² is being allocated in the O&N4 research building on campus. The facility will consist of 800 m² of biobank refrigerators and freezers, two cryogenic storage rooms (140 m² and 325 m²), 450 m² of office space, as well as all associated technical rooms and a quality control laboratory. With a capacity of 250 refrigerators and freezers, 40 GMP-controlled cryovats, 40 conventional UZL cryovats, and space for 35 cryovats dedicated to KUL, this facility is unrivaled in size in the wider region.

The design was developed by all parties using the BIM methodology, with Ingenium also responsible for 3D plan coordination among the contractors during construction. Ingenium thus handles BIM management throughout the entire process. For supervision of the demolition, structural work, interior fit-out, and the permit application, Ingenium was assisted by the architectural firm Felix & Partners; for structural stability issues, by the engineering firm Provoost. The associated cooling plant and high-voltage, low-voltage, normal/emergency/UPS power stations were also built by Ingenium, in collaboration with Deerns nv.