Completion Date: 2003
Square Footage: 340,000
LEED NC Silver

We developed a master plan for Applied Biosystems' innovative science processes facilities. The master plan of the 80-acre industrial site encompasses more than one million square feet of laboratory, office, assembly and support spaces. The location of the site adjacent to residential areas required a complex entitlement and review process. The community’s high expectations for environmental quality aligned with the need for energy efficiency provided a good basis for LEED® analysis.

The plan preserves much of the site as open space. Sited for optimizing daylight and views, the separate buildings connect to a central landscape corridor creating a park-like setting joining natural areas to the north and south. Building organization is based on a prototype laboratory plan that accommodates a wide variety of potential occupants. Recognized for initial cost effectiveness and for adaptability over time, the prototype planning includes energy and environmental factors. In response to solar orientation, laboratories are north-facing, while offices and other areas with greater daylight needs and lower cooling demands are located to the south.

The building incorporates advanced environmental planning concepts within the parameters of a strict budget. LEED analysis was established at conception and construction funds allocated to meet sustainability goals. LEED Silver certification was achieved making Applied Biosystems among the first 100 LEED certified buildings and one of the first buildings for science certified at the Silver level or higher.