saucier + perrotte architectes: UBC faculty of pharmaceutical sciences

‘UBC faculty of pharmaceutical sciences / CDRD’ by saucier + perrotte architectes and hughes condon marler architects, vancouver, canadaimage © marc cramerall images courtesy of saucier + perrotte architectes and hughes condon marler architects

located at the heart of the university of british columbia’s premises on a 20 meter by 240 meter site as one of the most important entrances to the campus, the ‘UBC faculty of pharmaceutical sciences and center for drug research and development’ designed by montreal-based saucier + perrotte architectes together with vancouver-based and hughes condon marler architects (HCMA) aims to provide an architectural representation of the state of the art educational program. initially rooted in the abstracted idea of a tree with foliage floating above ground supported by a trunk, so does the structure site off street level as an inviting feature for attracting the public. the trunks manifest themselves architectonically as light filled atria that service all ranges of programs. a public first level exhibition space is a place where visitors, students and faculty members can coincide and exchange ideas, with another gallery upstairs dedicated to the field and history of medicine.

resting on a timber-imprinted concrete foundation, a branching steel frame structure creates light airy spaces wrapped in glazing as a group of glass cubes that protrude and recede from the facade. the interior is given a warm feel with white walls and wood planks in a dynamic angular interior that fosters a sense of creativity.

approach to site, entrance on ground level soft storyimage © marc cramer

protruding and receding glass cubes hold different functionsimage © marc cramer

interior meshes reflective black tiles, textured concrete and wood planksimage © marc cramer

stairs up to the exhibition spaceimage © marc cramer

angular interior spacesimage © marc cramer

large atria offer natural light to all laboratories, offices, and classroomsimage © marc cramer

office interiorimage © marc cramer

floor plan / level 0

section

formal evolution: primary, secondary and tertiary components

section sketch

conceptual sketch

project info:

official name of project: ubc faculty of pharmaceutical sciences / cdrd location and site: university of british columbia, vancouver, british columbiabuilding area: 27,311m2 (275,868 ft2)approx site area: 7,580m2 (81,590 ft2)budget: $92 000 000 caddate completed: september 2012

client name: university of british columbia (ubc) properties trustarchitect: saucier + perrotte architectes / hughes condon marler architectsarchitectural concept and design: gilles saucier (s+p),managing principals: andré perrotte (s+p), roger hughes (hcma), project architect: bill uhrich (hcma) / craig lane (hcma)design coordinator: david moreaux (s+p), design and construction team in alphabetical order: patrice begin (s+p), darryl condon (hcma), charles-alexandre dubois (s+p), dominique dumais (s+p),nicko elliott (s+p), paul fast (hcma), melissa higgs (hcma), olivier krieger (s+p), rachel lacey (hcma), joel legault (s+p), charles leman (hcma), kourosh mahvash (hcma), yutaro minagawa (s+p), greg neudorf (s+p), carl-jan rupp (hcma), marc-andré tratch (s+p), craig west (hcma), eli wolpin (hcma), nicolas worth (hcma), structural: glotman simpsonmechanical: stantecelectrical: applied engineering solutions (aes)landscape: perry + associatesconstruction manager: ledcorarchitectural concrete: ucc groupimage / photographic credits: marc cramer