Nexus

An ambitious new building project aims to strengthen Bellinzona as a research centre in Ticino with its three expanding institutes IOR, IRB and EOC. The planning team led by Ilg Santer Architekten and Buzzi studio d’architettura won the competition for the headquarters of the Oncological Research Institute (IOR), which will provide 12 new research laboratories as well as training rooms, a library, a large catering area and an auditorium for at least 250 people. The engineers from LÜCHINGER MEYER PARTNER supported the design work in the structural and façade planning.

The jury praised the winning project ‘NEXUS’ as innovative and surprising. Respecting the high architectural quality of the neighbouring building by Aurelio Galfetti, the positioning of two new structures and their autonomous volumetry has resulted in the creation of a high-level research and training campus. ‘The new four-storey [research] building has a simple and efficient load-bearing structure.’ (Jury). By reducing the vertical load-bearing elements to a minimum, the reinforced concrete skeleton structure responds ideally to the requirements of the special use of the building. The large spans of approx. 9 metres allow the individual laboratories to be arranged within the structural grid and ensure column-free and therefore completely flexible research rooms. Approx. 32 cm thick flat slabs made of recycled concrete rest on prefabricated concrete columns and four central stair cores. The mass of the slabs allows thermal energy to be stored, ensuring a very stable climate in the laboratories and reducing the susceptibility of the structure to vibrations that could affect the proper functioning of the laboratory instruments.

The concrete volume of the reinforced concrete flat slabs and the associated CO2 emissions are reduced by approx. 25 % through the targeted use of hollow bodies (COBIAX® type), without compromising or significantly reducing the stiffness and load-bearing capacity of the slabs. The impact on the environment and the grey energy required for the construction of the building are further reduced by the use of low-clinker cement types with low CO2 emissions.
‘A vertiginous atrium in the centre of the building connects all four floors and creates a meeting point and reference point for all those who organise themselves around this atrium, the laboratories and the workspaces.’
The structure of the auditorium consists of a circular basement made of waterproof recycled concrete. A steel roof spans the entire ground floor and extends over part of the outdoor areas with a projection of up to 9 metres. For this purpose, haunched welded beams with average spans of approx. 27 metres are arranged radially in the roof plane and supported on steel columns.

Visualisations: Filippo Bolognese Images