Ignite

Competition entry

Ignite is our design entry for a competition for an undisclosed campus location. Ignite, located at the heart of the campus, a large multi-tenant building and contributes to establish serendipitous encounters and knowledge exchange for its direct users and the people on campus. The building is approximately 12,000 square meters GFA. Ignite offers spaces for offices, laboratories and a large amount of shared functions. The building is designed with a hybrid structure; wooden CLT floors, wooden columns, wooden beams and steel beams where necessary. Our design proposal came in second place in the competition, but we are proud to show the result.

Designing the different life phases of a company

In the context of flexibility, Ignite is designed to accommodate multiple life phases and stages of a company. Since the future is unpredictable and companies evolve over time, we anticipate the possibility of a company transitioning. Each stage of a company has its own specific characteristics, requiring a different design approach. Therefor we designed Ignite with a high degree of flexibility. In the building design, these stages are embedded as a gradient from bottom to top; from a young (start-up) company to a mature company. This gradient parallels the concept of activity to tranquillity as one moves upward in the building via a large atrium flooded with daylight and greenery.

Knowledge exchange

The various users have their work environments around the centrally located atrium. Common functions are carefully placed around this atrium, moving upward with the users. These shared facilities are tailored to the overlapping use of different types of users. This approach precisely considers where each shared function (fitness room, game room, yoga space, meeting rooms, pantries, lunch area, etc.) is placed along the so-called central “Spine” of the building. Through the visibility of these functions, this stacking acts as a catalyst for interaction and knowledge sharing between different users.

Concept

The volume of Ignite responds to and connects with an existing structure. Certain functions nestle within the existing building, and the concept of the “Spine” continues within it. The existing structure is made more visible and respected by slightly pushing back the mass of the new construction. In this way, the existing building becomes a landmark from a pedestrian perspective, maintaining the human scale for the environment. Like the structure, the facade will also be made of wood. The sustainable character of Ignite is thus manifested on the campus, as it occupies a central position and is visible from afar. The interplay of Y- and X-elements in the facade is not only aesthetic but also functional, contributing to the stability of Ignite.

Sustainability

Ignite addresses a wide range of sustainability principles. The construction primarily consists of wooden CLT floors, beams, and columns. The atrium is not only used as a social focal point but also leverages natural cooling and heating throughout the seasons. The green-blue roof provides a tiered water system and mediates water purification, topped with PV panels for energy generation. Finally, the wooden facade and green-blue roof offer great potential for accommodating nature inclusivity; careful consideration has been given to the different facade orientations and heights suitable for nesting birds.

Ignite came in second place in the competition.