The site concept is to integrate the new laboratory building with this unique site and its natural beauty, sunset views, and dramatic topography.
Pfizer, Inc., one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies hired the integrated Lamar Johnson Collaborative/Clayco/CRG team to design, build and lease their world class, 294,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that reflects Pfizer’s highest standards for excellence, quality, safety and value.
Pfizer is committed to environmental sustainability, innovative performance, and employee engagement. The site concept is to integrate the new laboratory building with this unique site and its natural beauty, sunset views, and dramatic topography. The building program is strategically organized to provide operational efficiency and enhance cooperation. Unique collaborative spaces both inside and outside provide opportunities for innovation. Connecting nature, program, and people will enhance employee’s experience and the company’s productivity. The building design is fundamentally based on the Continuous Lab Concept, where the linear lab zone runs uninterrupted, parallel to a continuous office zone, separated by a generous corridor serving both lab and office. This approach allows maximum flexibility for the labs to change size over time. Lamar Johnson Collaborative has developed a workplace strategy that optimizes space which will manifest in centralized office supplies and storage, a dining facility on the first floor and a centralized cafe on all other floors. An observation study was completed on all labs, office and amenity spaces to identify improvement that supports the nature of work.
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The critical science happening inside is protected by high performance glass that ensures 97% of UV light is blocked while maintaining clear visibility. Visual comfort is further enhanced through a unique ceramic frit pattern in the glass that references the protein manipulation that happens in the labs.
The Pilot Plant is a production facility that will be used for the first run of the innovative products that are being developed in the R&D Lab.
Clayco’s technology team was instrumental in conducting performance analysis of the proposed curtain wall system and submitting findings to designers, taking the lead on re-formulating industry best practices for digitally-enabled layout and the use of drones during several very critical phases of site development and underground scope.
The collective hard work, creativity and problem solving efforts showed by the team resulted in quality design and a building, which we all believe, will lead to significant advances in human health.
Rick Moeckel, Executive Vice President & Shareholder
The buildings dense program wraps around a courtyard that acts as the natural heart of the building. It is framed at the ground floor by diverse programs including the lobby, dinning, office, and most importantly collaboration space. The u-shaped office and lab bar wraps the courtyard at the two upper levels. Its active gathering spaces open to the landscape at its western edge. Native landscape also flows into the space. The courtyard embodies the open spirit of the scientific community and collaborative innovation.
The laboratory space is organized around a two-way planning module that delivers a combination of efficiency and flexibility. It allows equipment and casework changes to be made in short, middle, or long term. The general circulation is a dual-purpose corridor that acts as a technical pathway for carts and materials as well as people. The continuous laboratory configuration provides a universal lab environment that is easily modified. Boundaries between groups are changeable as one group grows and another shrinks.
The unique natural setting on the west side of the site provides opportunities to bring Pfizer’s talent outdoors in collaborative spaces for working groups or as individuals for contemplation. The facility is integrated into the landscape yet situated at the highest point of the site to provide bluff like views across the adjacent woodland treetops. The campus master plan establishes the main entrance off Chesterfield Parkway with a formal entry leading up to distinct drop off plaza.
Natural Setting
CLIENT
Pfizer
LOCATION
Chesterfield, MO
SIZE
295,000 SF
SERVICES
Architecture
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
AWARDS
St. Louis Business Journal’s 2020 Building St. Louis Awards for Public/Private Projects More Than $10 million
