shop architects: botswana innovation hub

botswana innovation hub by shop architects

american firm shop architects has been selected, through an international design competition, to design the botswana innovation hub, a new 270,000 sq ft office and research building in gabarone. the botswana innovation hub will provide office and laboratory space for technology-driven and knowledge-intensive foreign and local businesses, as well as research and advanced training institutes. the building will be an iconic symbol of botswana’s support for research and development and the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship, acting as a nexus for knowledge creation and innovation.

the client’s brief was for an iconic yet timeless building which employed the most cutting-edge green technology available. with this in mind shop’s design uses a variety of sustainable techniques, including a concept shop deems the ‘energy blanket’ roofscape, which combines passive and active sustainable energy techniques. the roof design of the botswana innovation hub incorporates large overhangs to passively shade the building’s interior volumes, mechanisms to collect and re-use water, and both passive and active photovoltaic systems to harness solar energy. the combination of these technologies will offset at least half of the building’s operational energy costs. where the roof slope prevents optimal solar collection, a low-maintenance roof garden collects and filters rainwater. this harvested water supports both the roof garden and the bioswales downstream in the courtyards.

in their statement, the evaluation committee said that shop’s proposal exhibited the best combination of ‘innovativeness, environmental sustainability, functionality and cost-effectiveness.’ shop won the competition against 17 other companies from europe, usa and africa that submitted their proposals for the design of the bih.

the deputy permanent secretary for infrastructure ministry of infrastructure, science and technology commented, ‘the design by shop architects will set the tone for future building designs in the

botswana innovation hub science and technology park.’ shop architects said, ‘we are delighted to be working with the botswana innovation hub and the botswana development corporation on what will be an iconic building for africa.’

detail of the roof

the roof garden

project facts: client: botswana development corporation location of project: gabarone, botswana, africa phase: in design type of project: commercial / research project size: 270,000 sf building area / 57 hectare site project credits (competition team) design architect: shop architects new york, ny principals: christopher r. sharples, william w. sharples, coren d. sharples, kimberly j. holden, gregg a. pasquarelli structural engineer: arup mep engineer: buro happold sustainability consulting: buro happold civil and geotechnical engineer: langan landscape architect: hood design virtual design & construction and integration services: shop construction