Enhancing human longevity

With a focus on collaborative research and interdisciplinary exploration, this leading biotechnology company seeks to deepen our understanding of human aging and age-related diseases – helping people live longer, healthier lives.

To accommodate rapid organizational growth and expand capacity for translating discoveries into life-changing therapies, the client acquired an incomplete shell space located directly across the street from their main campus in South San Francisco's booming biotechnology sector.

Seeking to transform the new facility into a fully branded, next-generation scientific workplace environment, while providing a cohesive user experience between the two buildings, the client partnered with Flad for the renovation and expansion of their newly acquired space.

The resulting four-story, 93,000-square-foot expansion provides state-of-the-art laboratories, offices, conference space, and amenities to create a robust scientific workplace environment that embodies the client's collaboration-driven culture.

In addition to seminar rooms where the client can host "tech talk" seminars with visiting speakers, the ground floor offers an expansive, open area where they can hold "all-hands" meetings with the entire staff. The second, third, and fourth floors offer an even mix of laboratory and office support space, accommodating a variety of biological research environments and equipment including tissue culture, microscopy, laser imaging, and mass spectrometry.

The renovation expanded an existing fire stair to serve as a communication conduit through the building. With retractable fire doors, it continues in its original purpose but offers openings on two sides on each floor, increasing visibility and the opportunity for informal meetings. It also hosts a 60-foot vertical LED display that can be programmed with a variety of text and images ranging from scientific or company data to social or team member information.

Inspired by the honeycomb-like Voronoi pattern found in the natural world, the design expresses organic hexagonal patterns throughout the facility including the signature entrance canopy welcoming both employees and visitors.