Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine
The cutting-edge research facility brings together three themes of expertise: cardiology, neurology and immunology, with the aim of developing treatments for degenerative diseases, including heart disease, stroke and primary immune deficiencies. The project provides prime space to recruit new research leaders; promote multidisciplinary expertise and build strong collaborations with other world leading institutes.
The IDRM is located at the University’s Old Road Campus in Headington, a site dedicated to medical science research and includes three floors of laboratories and write-up areas.
The promotion of cross theme collaboration and interaction between scientists is an essential component of the brief. To facilitate this a range of communal areas: informal break out, meeting and discussion spaces, have been provided within the central atrium.
To create a sense of openness and take advantage of views to the parkland setting, the ground floor and triple-height atrium is fully glazed. The building therefore reads as a floating box, with Corten cladding used to the upper two floors, the colour of which references the red brick Victorian villas in the surrounding area.
To reflect the University’s philosophy, the IDRM was designed using Passivhaus design principles. The rigorous detailing resulted in the construction exceeding the strict Passivhaus standard for airtightness.
“One year into our occupation of the new Institute, the IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building as designed by SRA has fulfilled its promise- encouraging collaboration and multi-disciplinary interactions in an open, light and aesthetically pleasing environment. My many guided tours for academics, funders and members of the public have heaped suitably heavy praise on the building and its design. It is a pleasure to come to work every day.”