A new agricultural science paradigm

Syngenta's interest in promoting a cohesive corporate culture led to the creation of a singular facility that collocates research, non-research, and growing functions on a single campus. A catalyst for scientific interaction, the RTP Innovation Center reflects the vitality of teams that reach across all aspects of the research and development chain.

Connected directly to the earlier Flad-designed Advanced Crop Lab, the 200,000-square-foot center consists of a four-story laboratory wing and three-story administration wing, connected by a three-story atrium. The building is broken down into a series of neighborhoods that correlate to their different working groups and include ad hoc rooms, quiet areas, and team spaces that support different clusters of teams or groups. A ribbon of community space runs through the center of the complex, providing a full range of amenities that support both wings. The atrium is a magnet for activity, linking research and non-research people and program spaces.

Conceived in direct response to Syngenta's research mission, the facility is simple, lean, and highly adaptable. The design of research spaces removes obstructions and employs an open, large, and flexible laboratory floor – a departure from Syngenta's previous inflexible and non-mobile research environments. A new approach to incorporating lab support within this expansive floorplate optimizes the workflow for researchers and enables frequent reconfiguration of research teams. Major support functions are placed at the shoulders of the open floorplate while immediate needs at the bench are now serviced by shared support pods embedded within the laboratory, providing convenient access to frequently needed equipment.

Unifying functions previously scattered across multiple buildings in Research Triangle Park, the RTP Innovation Center features transparency, accessibility, and visibility, which together form the new template for agriscience, all in support of maximizing interaction and connection among the science teams, administrative groups, and visiting partners. Qualitatively, it's unlike any other ag biotech corporate environment.