Completion Date: 2009
Square Footage: 178,000
LEED NC Gold certified

The Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is a non-profit organization based in La Jolla, California. Sanford-Burnham has three areas of focused exploration: cancer research, neuroscience and aging research as well as infectious and inflammatory disease. At Sanford-Burnham, a collaborative style of research is promoted bringing together biologists, chemists, biophysicists, engineers and computer scientists in a synergetic environment.

The 178,000 square foot project has been planned as two parallel wings with a connecting hub. The larger wing contains the research laboratory and vivaria and the smaller wing contains the conference center, administrative offices and cafeteria. The two wings are joined by a 2-story glass-walled common space with an open air communicating stair. The three floors of research space are connected by a series of cascading stairs, which facilitate direct circulation, communication and collaboration among the scientists from the various disciplines. The administrative wing has direct views and access to the open common space that opens directly to a landscaped courtyard. The cafeteria and associated outdoor space overlooks the adjacent double helix water feature.