Laboratories and offices Biopôle

The Biopôle III building will house laboratories and offices. Work on this site is to begin in April 2009. This project has been developed to qualify for the Minergie label.

Through the incorporation of the building into its site, its volume, physical relationship with the immediate environment, integrated choice of building procedures and products, everything has been done to minimise the impact of this structure on its environment.

The mixed use of glass and metal for the façade and concrete to highlight the cornice recalls the environment of the existing buildings and so establishes a dialogue between old and new.

One of the main constraints imposed by the building owner was the requirement for a Minergie façade allowing maximum flexibility for internal layout.

The triple glazing stretches over the full height to improve the daily working conditions of users (natural lighting) and benefit from a view of the lake and neighbouring forest.

We also work to achieve a compact volume (minimise the façade deployment, insulation thickness etc.). Last but not least, we employed bio-climatic architecture (production of hot water for washing purposes, avoidance of air conditioning, reduction of energy needs associated with air conditioning).

Heat production is assured by the remote heating system of the Lausanne Municipal Industrial Services (SIL). The renewable energy shares which we have allowed are as follows: building needs 60%, hot water (for washing purposes) 75%.

The connection to the Lausanne Municipal district heating system enables around 50% renewable energy based on heat generated by TRIDEL, the Lausanne refuse incineration centre, to be used. This improves the Minergie balance sheet and avoids the need to fit solar detectors as required by the new Vaud Law if fossil energy is used.