Danone Innovation Centre

Development

A new research center for the Baby and Medical Division of food manufacturer Danone has been built in Utrecht. In addition to functionality and representativeness, sustainability was an important consideration. In its implementation, building physics consultant DGMR and installation consultant Deerns played an important role. Project management was provided during design and construction by Stevens Van Dijck.

Building function

The new Innovation Center clusters the R&D activities of Danone’s Baby Nutrition and Medical Nutrition divisions. The program includes a pilot plant, laboratories, offices, storage capacity, information center, conference center, a coffee corner and a restaurant.

Details

With optimal space efficiency, the Innovation Center is designed to be as compact as possible. The horizontally articulated façade of sandwich panels and glass is highly insulating and provides generous daylighting that contributes to both user well-being and reduction of artificial lighting. The use of materials is minimized and deliberate. For example, the steel structure is slenderly dimensioned and only 100% FSC-certified wood is prescribed. The building is designed to be maximally flexible. Thus, it is easily expandable internally and externally with little use of materials, and the installation facilities are fully adapted to the structural possibilities to completely free floor layouts. Laboratories are easily converted into office spaces, and the placement of risers and facilities provide ample opportunities for partial access and thus multitenant use.
Realization of the Danone Innovation Centre took place through the methodology of Industrial, Flexible and Demountable Construction, which guarantees, among other things, a fast construction time and a strong limitation of waste streams. In addition to the aforementioned aspects, the accommodation quality in particular contributes to the sustainability of the building. For example, the building has a lot of spatial differentiation, there is plenty of light, views and transparency, and users can regulate their own climate conditions, including using natural ventilation through facade sections that can be opened.