- Design Architect:
- Flad Architects
- Location:
- San Diego
- Completion Date:
- 2024
At Torrey View, a life science research campus in San Diego by Flad Architects and Breakthrough Properties the idea was to harmonize building with environment. The campus buildings reflect geologic formations; this was achieved by replicating the layered geology of canyons using precast concrete and Glass-Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC).
The project spans 10 acres to encompass a 515,000-square-foot life science research campus, blending functionality with aesthetic appeal. The campus consists of three multi-story research buildings and a standout amenity building with a cantilevered roof. Additionally, there is a 1,400-stall parking structure that lies partially below grade beneath the amenity building. Among the tenants is BD Biosciences, one of the largest medical technology companies in the world.
Flad Architects’s design was informed by the site’s geology. The GFRC panels blend seamlessly with the environment in both color and texture. The dynamic interaction offers unique visual effects on all four facades.
“We were inspired by the landscape and layered geology of the canyon space and the Arroyo area, incorporating elements of old Roman and Renaissance architecture and perspectival stepping,” Philip Ra, design director and principal at Flad Architects, told AN.
To achieve the desired “stepping” effect and depth across the buildings’ faces, Flad developed and iterated a series of physical models. Initially, the design featured 12 steps, which were reduced to six, and eventually arrived at eight.
“This was our first time using this product, so we relied on computational design and judgment to determine the facade patterns that we believed would work best,” Ra added.
The physical models were also a means for testing how light affected the panels’ coloring. Early tests on the mockups found the color of the concrete was too bright when exposed to sunlight. Adjustments were then made to ensure the color was appropriate for the surrounding environment and that the neutral-colored GFRC panels blend seamlessly with the San Diego landscape.
The team worked closely with Clark Pacific to ensure the color and texture were consistent with the lighting. After Flad examined the material and the expected quality, Clark Pacific then custom-made and cast for the final steel mold for the panels, which was both impressive and cost-effective.
As day transitions to night, thoughtfully positioned lighting underneath the facade steeping illuminates the buildings’ features while lighting up the public space.
“Wherever you stand, the building catches your eye because the light hits the facade, meaning they never look the same,” Ra described. “Sometimes you notice the stepping, and other times you see the major joint panels.”
A challenge of the design and construction was how to effectively handle water and how best to incorporate detailing that would prevent dirt accumulation. The stepped design was specifically fabricated to avoid water buildup and related maintenance issues. To ensure its effectiveness, the team tested the waterproofing in a performance mockup.
Elsewhere on the campus, a signature one-story amenity building features a restaurant, bar, cafe, library, and lounge. Flad explained that due to the height of surrounding buildings, the amenity building gets overlooked. The low-lying structure was designed with a copper-colored cantilever that riffs off the layering used on the research buildings. Its exposed metal roof adds depth to the building’s neutral-colored GFRC panels. The warm brown color, resembling copper, was first drawn up as wood that extended seamlessly inside. The wood grain didn’t work well with the curved edges, so Flad opted for metal instead to achieve the desired continuity.
A green roof atop the amenity building reduces heat gain and provides an inviting view from above. Traditional metal roofs, while reflective, contribute to heat gain and can be visually blinding. The green roof provides sufficient cooling and shading, enhancing energy efficiency for the building’s facade and overall structure.
Ra said, “By minimizing the roof area, we maximized the green roof coverage, which, despite adding some heat gain, was necessary for both visual connection to the landscape and site integration.”
