National Hospital Research Core

The National Hospital Research Core consolidates the hospital’s research and laboratory activities within a single highly specialized facility. Designed as a flexible and interconnected environment, the building supports advanced diagnostics, medical research, and future developments in healthcare while forming a key part of the new hospital campus.

Location
Reykjavik, Iceland
Status
Under Construction
Typology
Healthcare
Healthcare
All
All
Size
18.000 m2
Year
2029
Client
NLSH

The Research Core is designed to bring together a broad range of laboratory and research functions that are currently spread across multiple locations. The building will house pathology, clinical biochemistry and hematology, cell culture and cell manipulation facilities, genetic and molecular medicine, immunology, bacteriology, virology, and the hospital’s blood bank operations. In conjunction with the pathology unit, the building will also include mortuary, autopsy, and forensic pathology facilities.

The building is closely connected to the treatment core and other hospital departments through bridges, corridors, and a dedicated pipe and mail system. This allows samples to be transported rapidly between departments and laboratories within minutes, while the facility will also process samples arriving from outside the hospital.

Research environments are constantly evolving, and flexibility is therefore central to the architectural design. Laboratory modules and workspaces are organized to accommodate changing technologies, workflows, and future developments in medical science. At the same time, the building provides a highly specialized working environment for researchers, clinicians, and technical staff.

A central atrium forms the heart of the building, bringing daylight and air deep into the interior spaces. Visual connections between floors encourage interaction between departments and support collaboration and exchange of ideas across disciplines.

The Research Core is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2029.

The Research Core is designed to bring together a broad range of laboratory and research functions that are currently spread across multiple locations. The building will house pathology, clinical biochemistry and hematology, cell culture and cell manipulation facilities, genetic and molecular medicine, immunology, bacteriology, virology, and the hospital’s blood bank operations. In conjunction with the pathology unit, the building will also include mortuary, autopsy, and forensic pathology facilities.

The building is closely connected to the treatment core and other hospital departments through bridges, corridors, and a dedicated pipe and mail system. This allows samples to be transported rapidly between departments and laboratories within minutes, while the facility will also process samples arriving from outside the hospital.

Research environments are constantly evolving, and flexibility is therefore central to the architectural design. Laboratory modules and workspaces are organized to accommodate changing technologies, workflows, and future developments in medical science. At the same time, the building provides a highly specialized working environment for researchers, clinicians, and technical staff.

A central atrium forms the heart of the building, bringing daylight and air deep into the interior spaces. Visual connections between floors encourage interaction between departments and support collaboration and exchange of ideas across disciplines.

The Research Core is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2029.

Credits

Architecture and Interior Design: Basalt Architects

Project Architect: Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir

Design Team: Anna Björg Sigurðardóttir, Dagbjört Jónsdóttir, Hekla Víglundsdóttir, Magda Soja, Marcos Zotes, Þorsteinn Jafet.

Collaborators

The project is created by Corpus3 consisting of the companies Basalt Architects, Hornsteinar Architects, Lota and VSÓ.

Architecture: In collaboration with Hornsteinar

Landscape: Hornsteinar

Interior Design: In collaboration with Hornsteinar

Engineering: Lota and VSÓ

Advisors: Buro Happold, Niras, De Jong Gortemaker Algra