Co-located with the National University of Singapore’s University Town (UTown), CREATE is a SGD360 million ($289 million) world-class research facility in a tropical garden setting, which showcases advanced environmental and energy-saving technologies.
Unlike the conventional lab design, the design of 67,000 square metres CREATE includes cores and corridors located at the perimeter to introduce maximum daylight and flexibility.
Developed as a flexible building configuration, the facility has been designed according to usage types and ventilation requirements. The wet laboratories are located in the low-rise wings, while the dry ones and offices are in the high-rise tower.
Laboratory core spaces and corridors are also placed at the perimeter to maximise natural light into the interior. The office zones feature energy recovery, solar power systems, and chilled beams to minimise the need for energy-intensive mechanical systems.
Utilising the tropical environment, the facility includes a water treatment facility, which has reduced its dependence on municipal water by 77% through the collection; and storage, treatment and re-use of tropical rainwater and grey water from showers and lavatories. The Green roofs reduce stormwater runoff, as well as minimise interior heat gain and conserve energy.
Other design elements and environmental strategies such as improved glazing systems, green walls, sky gardens, energy recovery and photovoltaic power systems have also been implemented. The facility is expected to save an estimated 9,000,000kWh of electricity and 66,000 cubic metres of water, annually.
CREATE is designed to support a full range of lab types from computational science, wet biology, dry chemistry, as well as quality office space.
The Laboratory of the Year awards program will take place during the Laboratory Design Conference to be held at the JW Marriott in Houston on 9 April 2013. Now in its 47th year, the Laboratory of the Year Awards recognises excellence in research laboratory design, planning, and construction.
