Demographic developments in Switzerland are leading to a growing demand for laboratory medical services. As a result, the Centre for Laboratory Medicine in St. Gallen is planning to construct a new laboratory building. The team led by WALDRAP won the project competition for the desired economical functional building with its FLOWLAB design. «The project impresses with its holistic quality. It combines functional, economic and ecological efficiency in the overall concept and, derived from this, a flexible building structure embedded in its context. This, in turn, is translated into a filigree and multi-layered building language and architecture for this location.» A clear three-aisled building and façade architecture with a raised central aisle gives the new building a precise form. The jury recognises the high degree of flexibility in use offered by the structural design proposed by LÜCHINGER MEYER PARTNER. Three key objectives or features determined its design: the creation of an economical and flexible functional building, structural provisions for later expansion and pile foundations on the molasse rock.