The expansion of the ‘MAN’ laboratory on a southern site within a natural research campus proposes a compact 20x20x20 meter cube design. This form provides a new clear entrance, reduces energy loss by over 20%, and minimizes environmental impact by preserving the surrounding Kempen landscape and allowing natural rainwater absorption.

The building uses a split-level system that stacks two laboratory floors with three office floors, integrating labs within a double façade for climate control and flexible infrastructure, a central technical gallery for circulation and services, and more solid office volumes with panoramic views.

An internal courtyard serves as a social and logistical hub, featuring a coffee room and connecting canopy to existing buildings. The building includes a basement with archives and technical rooms, linked to the original ‘MAN’ structure via an underground tunnel.

Sustainability is central: the building is founded on energy piles powering a geothermal air system, uses heat exchangers to maximize energy recovery, and collects rainwater for reuse. Materials and construction aim to minimize environmental impact, with an open rooftop space instead of a green roof.