Contemporary architecture by international team: Progetto CMR teams up with Hok to design new global Hub for Biomedical Research near Palermo, in Italy.
Plans for the 334,000-square-foot (31,000-square-meter) facility were unveiled today in Palermo, Sicily, in an event attended by Italian political leaders including Prime Minister Mario Monti and Rosario Crocetta, president of the Region of Sicily.
The $269 million (210 million euros) world-class research facility will be a global hub for biomedical research and development. Managed by UPMC, the facility’s focus on translational science will move research quickly from the lab to the marketplace. The ultimate goal is to prevent or cure diseases while improving the quality of life and life expectancy of patients.
The BRBC is expected to open in 2016 and, when fully operational, employ more than 600 scientists and other staff. Plans for future phases on the campus include a new hospital and medical school.
To align with Ri.MED’s sustainability goals, the team designed the BRBC campus as one of the world’s most environmentally responsive and resource-efficient research facilities.