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The new headquarters of Dubiotech (in Dubai, of course! We do love our puns…), is set to be one of the world’s largest green buildings. The LEED certified 22-story headquarters and laboratory buildings will be home to the center of excellence for biotechnology education and research, with two connected buildings oriented to maximize day-lighting and views while minimizing solar gain. It will also integrate a 500,000 sq ft animal reserve for indigenous conservation and wildlife protection.The design comes form design firm CUH2A, and is scheduled for completion in 2009. 
Conceptually, the architecture represents DNA migration in an agarose gel as seen during electrophoresis. (Electrophoresis is the movement of charged molecules under the influence of electric current.) This truly reflects the kind of research that will be conducted in the laboratories of DuBiotech and what this park is all about. The 60,000 sq ft headquarters, designed by CUH2A, the firm renowned for designing of facilities for science and technology institutions, won the Design and Sustainability Honour Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New Jersey Chapter. Dr. Abdulqader Alkhayat, Executive Director of DuBiotech said, “DuBiotech’s initiative to develop sustainable buildings matches its commitment to be a socially and environmentally responsible organization.” The DuBiotech park, set up under the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority, would be built on an area of 300-hectare with an estimated cost of about Dh130 million for the infrastructure, and Dh600 million for the lab and headquarters buildings. Dubiotech works with the objectives of nurturing biotechnology education, encouraging innovation, offering state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities both to the academia and industry, and would consist of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, drug manufacturers and suppliers. In order to broaden the horizons of biotechnology in the UAE, it would be partnering, in addition to industries, with universities, medical institutions, and other biotechnology parks. It is expected to create some 20,000 jobs.  (Via Inhabitat) |
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