Projects

ESR (the Institute of Environmental Science and Research) has a new laboratory building at the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease at Wallaceville in Upper Hutt.

 

This new laboratory enables ESR teams to undertake biosecurity and environmental health protection and management. This involves molecular biology, virology and bacteriology work in separate laboratories with access to a suite of support spaces that include equipment, specimen, incubator and isolation rooms. Open-plan write-up areas outside the containment laboratory zone have direct observation access to the laboratories for peer review and safe practice.

 

The building includes a number of small meeting areas, with larger conference facilities available in the new adjacent Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry building. Designed to reflect the function it houses, the building complements the existing facilities and the rest of the Wallaceville campus. It fits in with the landscape and its large, mature native trees, using traditional, long-life materials with neutral colours to harmonise with the environment.

 

The design had to meet stringent workflow, safe practice and contamination-containment requirements. Working closely with the ESR project team, Stephenson&Turner has ensured a comfortable and safe working environment in a building where the modular design not only meets current needs but can be extended and altered in the future.