Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

This 230,000 square foot state-of-the-art lab located adjacent to the Harlem Hospital will allow for testing and services for a wide range of clinical and environmental health-related concerns. From microbiology and virology, to immunology and biosafety, the new laboratory will further enhance the City’s capability to respond to emerging public health challenges like COVID-19.
Organized in two parts, the building features a glassy, city-scaled laboratory volume rising from a pedestrian-scaled masonry podium that features essential support functions and the facility’s community-facing program. The podium includes a green roof and the laboratory’s administrative functions. Above, five floors of state-of-the-art laboratories are equipped to support a wide range of testing needs.

The façade design is characterized by a structural grid with diagonal glass and metal cladding. On the south side, the volume steps up to accommodate various laboratory sizes. This strategy also provides passive solar shading, which is one of the design components integrated to comply with the City’s ambitious resiliency and sustainability goals.