The Institute of Cell and Molecular Science at Queen Mary College, University of London, provides workspace, laboratories, seminar rooms and a lecture theatre for 400 scientists.

Above ground a glass pavilion, containing office space and meeting rooms, and the six-storey “Wall of Plant,” which hosts a 400-seat lecture theatre and the building’s electronic and mechanical services, are linked by a glass bridge over an open mews.

Seminar and meeting rooms in the glass pavilion are housed in pods that float above the laboratory floor, supported by spindly steel legs.

“The Centre of the Cell” is a giant orange molecule that houses a bioscience education center for school children. “Cloud” is a white ellipsoid containing two meeting rooms, “Spikey” is an irregular star-like black shape while the black and white “Mushroom” links to the bridge and acts as a reception area.

Bold colors are used throughout the building, particularly in the green lecture theatre, dotted with bright red seats, creating a poppy field effect.

“Our aim has been to create a space that avoids the traditionally sanitized environment of laboratory research buildings,” said architect Will Alsop. “Here the very fabric of the building speaks about science and is conducive to better science by bringing researchers together. This building offers an uplifting environment for research.”

Image gallery.
Via CNN News.
Related: Alsop’s SuperCity project.