Nanometrology laboratory

Shahid Beheshti University, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Department of Architecture, Tehran

Project idea

The Nanometrology Laboratory, located in Pardis Science and Technology Park in Iran, intends to create a technological building representing nanometrology. The building is comprised of physics, chemistry, and nanometrology laboratories; as well as public spaces.
As this building would be one of the few nanometrology laboratories in Iran, the public areas of the project are designed to exhibit the achievements in this field and work as a center for interaction and knowledge exchange about nanotechnology.

Another goal of the project was to create a vibrant and dynamic working space for researchers. In this project, special attention is paid to the employees’ needs and recreational spaces, in addition to responding to the special requirements of laboratories. For this reason, considering the requirements and demands of the project, semi-open collective spaces with controllable shaders—which on some floors can be used by both employees and people, and on some floors are located next to working spaces and dedicated to exclusive use of researchers—are created.

Inspired by the idea of nanoparticles and Nanometrology's evolving technology, the building’s envelope shaders are designed in a way that, based on specific algorithms or weather data, they can parametrically open or close, resulting in a dynamic façade that evokes the idea of nano.

Project description

There is a 16-meter height difference between the north and south sides of the site, and these two sides have access to their surrounding streets. Due to the fact that the street on the north side is the main street, parking and the main entrance of the complex are provided from the north street, while the maintenance entrance is located on the southern side.

Laboratory departments’ interior design aims to create spatial dynamics in addition to responding to the wide spectrum of technical requirements and employees' needs. Therefore, some sections (such as physics and chemistry laboratories) were considered to have two floors. The lower floor is dedicated to the report writing hall and support departments such as department management, dressing room, etc., and on the second floor, there are staff rest areas, laboratories, equipment storage, etc.

Technical information

The building has eight floors. Three upper floors are dedicated to public uses such as lobby, library, conference hall, administrative area, gallery, and public gathering. Recreational spaces and maintenance areas are located on the lowest floor and laboratories are located on their four upper floors. Along with these eight floors, there are two stories underground dedicated to staff and researchers' parking area.