Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

The Challenge:

GH3 & Ensitu Architects engaged NXL as Consulting Laboratory Architect to study the feasibility of locating STRI’s new research facility in Gamboa, Panama.

The LEED Silver facility was designed to accommodate 70,000 sf of laboratories and support spaces for terrestrial research programs in tropical soils, botany and insects. The challenge was to integrate the new $19M research building within the footprint of an existing schoolhouse at the edge of the rainforest, located on the banks of the Panama Canal.

Achieving a Successful Outcome:

NXL carried out functional and technical programming as well as concept design for the research laboratory areas.

• Successfully integrated strategies of a controlled environment into a tropical climate, while achieving sustainability.
• Segregated the research labs from support labs and write up spaces to minimize air conditioning costs, yet integrated all functional areas with cross views throughout to the extraordinary landscape.

This concept design received Honourable Mention at the 2008 OAA Design Excellence Awards.