Ennead Architects

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building

Todd Schliemann | Ennead Architects

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

DOB EXPEDITING
JAM

CIVIL/GEOTECHNICAL
Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.

YEAR
2014

FAÇADE MAINTENANCE
Entek

CATEGORY
Laboratory, Research Center

ENVIRONMENTAL 
AKRF

CURTAIN WALL
Heintges & Associates

SPECIFICATION
Robert Schwartz Associates

AREA   
480000.0 ft²

ACOUSTICS/AUDIOVISUAL/ INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Shen Milsom and Wilke, Inc.

MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL/PLUMBING
Jaros Baum & Bolles

LOCATION 
New York, United States

LABORATORY PLANNERS    
Jacobs Consultancy

DIGITAL MEDIA
Squint Opera

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER 
Tishman Construction Corporation

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN   
Atelier Ten Environmental Designers

MOVABLE EQUIPMEN
Equipment Collaborative

CODE
Hughes Associates

MANAGEMENT PARTNER
Duncan Hazard

TRAFFIC
Sam Schwartz Engineering

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Quennell Rothschild & Partners, LLP

FOOD SERVICE  
Romano Gatland

LIGHTING DESIGN   
Brandston Partnership Inc

ELEVATOR 
Iros Elevator Design Services, Inc.

ARCHITECTS
Todd Schliemann | Ennead Architects

SECURITY
Ducibella Venter & Santore

HARDWARE  
Glezen Fisher Group

ART CONSULTANT
Vick Art Advisors

PHOTOGRAPHS   
Jeff Goldberg/Esto

GRAPHICS 
Two Twelve Associates, Inc.

STRUCTURAL 
Severud Associates

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

Text description provided by architect.

The new Belfer Research Building provides Weill Cornell Medical College with a cutting-edge medical research facility in close proximity to the institution’s existing clinical, research and academic buildings, reinforcing its mission as an urban academic biomedical center and world leader in its field.

An outgrowth of Ennead’s 2003 master plan for the campus, the design of the Belfer Research Building is intended to complement the National Healthcare Design Award-winning Weill Greenberg Center, the institution’s flagship ambulatory care facility designed by Schliemann and opened in 2007. 

A two-story space extends from the Belfer entrance to a landscaped garden that connects the two buildings and creates an internalized campus green for Weill Cornell. Classrooms, conference rooms, lounge and study spaces, and a café are connected to the garden.

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

A humanistic research environment, the building is designed to facilitate high-impact translational research, providing both state-of-the-art efficiency and optimal quality of life on thirteen floors of laboratories, three floors of academic programs and two floors of research support space.

Flexible, transparent, open and easily adaptable spaces are designed to break down research silos and encourage communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

Natural light is optimized throughout the building as transparency between the office and the laboratory zones allows light from the south to permeate the lab bench area, enhancing the environment within the entire laboratory and allowing visual communication between principal investigators and laboratory researchers.

Outside the lab, principal investigators’ offices are located along a common corridor that includes shared collaborative spaces – conference rooms, computational spaces, lounge spaces and break room.

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

A connecting stair linking the office corridor of each floor to an adjacent floor above or below reinforces interdisciplinary interaction.

A digital media wall designed by the London-based firm Squint Opera is part of the building’s sophisticated art program.

Visible from the street, it reinforces the transparency of the façade. For both passersby and the scientists and students in the Medical College, the media wall celebrates the spirit of the institution.

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

Both art piece and information resource, the wall consists of over 2,500 high-resolution screens, each behind a lens module, that animate the ground level with a dynamic and innovative installation that conveys information at varying scales and relays the story of the exciting work being accomplished within the building.

The building envelope features a high-performance double-skinned, fritted-glass curtain wall that defines the building’s formal identity and maximizes energy efficiency.

The passively vented system is designed to promote controlled convection within the wall cavity, mitigating extreme temperatures on the exterior of the building and significantly reducing temperatures on the interior glass.

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

Openings and sun-shading devices enhance visual and thermal comfort within the office zone, reducing the cooling requirements and the overall carbon footprint of the building in excess of US Green Building Council requirements.

Industry standard components and construction methods are used in the curtainwall design to provide an economically sensitive sustainable solution.

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

In addition, the incorporation of energy efficient HVAC, lighting control, and water conservation systems, sustainable materials and green construction technologies will enable the building to save approximately 30 percent on energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 26 percent.

In comparison to a building complying with the minimum requirements set by typical industry guidelines and standards. The Belfer Research Building is designed to achieve LEED Gold.

Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
© Jeff Goldberg/Esto


Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
First Floor Plan
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Second Floor Plan
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Typical Laboratory Floor Plan


Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Stacking Diagram
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Facade Development
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Sustentability
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Sustainable mechanical System


Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Sustentability Section
Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
South Facade Detail


Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building
Cross Section

Ennead Architects
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