UGent - VIB research building
The VIB and UGent joined forces for the construction of a new research building, which came next to the current VIB on the technology park in Zwijnaarde.
Client
VIB
Contact
Wim Goethals
tel.09/2540111
Designer / Architect
SVR-Architects nv Storme Van Ranst
Location
Ghent, Technology Park Zwijnaarde
Budget techniques
10,000,000 € excluding VAT
Surface.
16.000 m²
Period Study
January 2016 - June 2017
PeriodImplementation
June 2017 - December 2019
VOP 09-07-2021
The Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie VIB) and Ghent University have completed a new research building of approximately 16,000 m² the Ardoyen campus in Zwijnaarde. The new building brings together various VIB on a single campus.
New Research Building
The new building brings together various VIB on a single campus and replaces outdated, inadequate infrastructure. The building houses state-of-the-art laboratories, including Ghent’s first BSL3-A3 lab for research into airborne pathogens such as influenza and coronaviruses, as well as offices, conference rooms, greenhouses, plant growth chambers, an animal facility, a restaurant, and a parking lot.
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Context and Challenge
High Standards for Building Services Engineering
High-tech scientific research places exceptional demands on building systems. Laboratory environments for biotechnology and virology require extreme precision in climate control, pressure regimes, filtration, and safety.
At the same time, research activity is growing and scientific inquiry is constantly evolving, which calls for flexible, forward-looking infrastructure that allows for expansions and adaptations without jeopardizing the continuity of ongoing research.
VIB Ghent University were struggling with a lack of space, outdated infrastructure, and the scattered locations of their research groups. The growth of recent years and plans for further expansion made it clear that the existing facilities were no longer adequate for high-tech research. The goal was to construct a new building on the Ardoyen campus that would bring the various disciplines together in state-of-the-art facilities.
A critical need was Ghent’s first BSL-3A3 laboratory. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, research into airborne pathogens became urgent and a societal priority. The new lab makes it possible to study how viruses such as influenza and coronavirus invade human cells and replicate, and to develop new therapies, all under strict safety conditions. Without this state-of-the-art infrastructure, such research cannot be conducted.
Action Plan: Laboratory Safety Is a Top Priority
Ingenium was responsible for the complete design of the technical systems and the supervision of the construction work. In addition to the traditional disciplines of HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, and specialty gases, the project included specific high-performance systems that are essential to the safety and functionality of the laboratories. These include systems for precise positive and negative pressure control in the various lab zones, HEPA filtration for purifying supply and exhaust air, additional filtration of exhaust air, a pure water system for critical processes, and a steam system for the production and distribution of steam for autoclaves and air handling units.
BIM Coordination
The project was designed entirely according to the BIM methodology, with all parties involved—architects, contractors, contractors, and engineering firms—collaborating within a single three-dimensional digital model. Ingenium coordinated this BIM process and oversaw the transition from virtual design models to as-built models that reflect the actual completed project. This coordination ensured that all components were precisely aligned with one another, which accelerated construction, prevented conflicts, and improved the quality of the final deliverable.
In addition, Ingenium carried out CAD in which the design models were further refined and detailed using REVIT software to create fully-fledged construction and as-built models. This digital approach lays the foundation for future management, maintenance, and any modifications to the systems.
Techniques and Concepts Used
Safety & Laboratory Technology
• BSL3-A3 laboratory: the first of its kind in Ghent, for research on airborne pathogens (influenza, coronavirus)
• Overpressure and underpressure control systems: controlled pressure regimes per zone for the containment of pathogens
• HEPA filtration: high-efficiency filtration of supply and exhaust air in laboratories and L2/L3 rooms
• Additional filtration of effluent: treatment of wastewater from high-quality laboratories
Process Gases & Utilities
• Specialty gases: distribution of process gases for laboratory applications
• Pure water system: production and distribution of purified water for critical processes
• Steam system: production and distribution of steam for autoclaves and air-handling units
Climate & Comfort
• HVAC: heating, ventilation, and cooling tailored to a variety of functions (offices, labs, greenhouses, plant growth chambers, animal facilities)
• Plumbing: water supply and drainage for laboratory, kitchen, and sanitary applications
• Electricity: power distribution and power supply for high-end research equipment
Digital Infrastructure & Coordination
• BIM coordination: full integration of all disciplines into a single 3D model, transitioning to as-built models for management and maintenance
• CAD(REVIT): development of construction and as-built models for all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
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