Currently, construction workers are working hard to complete Swingspace: a temporary satellite housing for biotech company Genmab, designed by cepezedinterieur. The company’s new building that cepezed and cepezedinterieur completed less than two years ago at the Utrecht Science Park, has already become way too small. Genmab will therefore also be going to make use of Accelerator, a multi-tenant neighboring building with R&D functions. This property was also designed by cepezed and cepezedinterieur and is currently under construction. Until its completion in about two years, more than 130 people are in need of space elsewhere.
tno building
Swingspace has found its place on two floors in an existing building in Zeist, just fifteen minutes biking from the Utrecht Science Park. This building is owned by TNO, the Dutch organization for applied natural sciences and already contains laboratories, which are also an important part of the brief for the temporary location. The complex from around the 1960’s does have traditional cell offices however, while Genmab’s corporate culture is entirely focused on transparency, connection and meeting. These themes were therefore important aspects of the design assignment.
fast and intensive process
Another important project feature is its speed. Because Genmab is in a hurry, an integrated design and realization process was organized. Within this process, cepezedinterieur had weekly pressure cooking sessions with Genmab, consultants JLL and HdG and the executing parties, which enabled a largely parallel design and execution. From design to completion, the almost 3.000 m² interior is being realized within five months.
sustainable solutions
Partly because of the temporary use, the sustainability of design choices was carefully considered. For example, the carpet tiles by Interface are made of residual yarns, the vinyl by Tarkett is phthalate-free and 100% recyclable and all new loose furniture and lab equipment will eventually be moved to Accelerator. A special sustainable feature are the birch plywood concentration units. These are completely prefabricated and were assembled on site by TheNewMakers. After use, they are easy to dismount and reuse elsewhere.
progess despite corona
Despite all the corona measures of the moment, the realization is progressing very smoothly. With some adjustments, main contractor Aalberts, interior builder Intos, installers Dort and Verweij and all other parties have been able to structurally continue work and are making it possible to complete the project on time within its challenging schedule!
temporary genmab satellite swingspace nears completion
