As part of the modernization of its campus in Braine-l'Alleud, UCB recently welcomed its newest acquisition. This multifunctional pharmaceutical production unit of almost 21,000 m², named Inflexio, stands out above all for its sustainability and the innovative nature of its facade. From the initial feasibility studies to the delivery of the project, assar architects worked closely with UCB and the various engineering firms involved. As project architect, assar was responsible for the design and technical and spatial coordination of all unclassified zones and functions (architecture, interior design, landscape design, BIM and project management).
Inflexio, one of the largest and most modern pharmaceutical production units of its kind in Belgium, is dedicated to advanced drug development and commercial production of monoclonal antibody drugs to support the global launch of new UCB products. The new complex consists of two buildings: the actual production unit (Building B7) for the manufacture of drug substances and an associated utility building (Building B8). A series of external technical installations, both above and below ground (tank farm, piperack, storm basins, rainwater collection and filtration systems for the cooling towers, etc.) complete the picture.
The production plant is based on optimized process integration, efficient building layouts and the design of spaces and technical equipment using innovative technologies. The CO2 emission performance is estimated to be 28% better than the latest designs of comparable biotechnology plants. Particular attention has been paid to the management and optimal use of water, its reuse and the overall minimization of waste. The Inflexio project thus actively contributes to the reduction of water and energy consumption, as do a series of other projects at the UCB site aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and carbon neutrality by 2030. Since the site is partially located in a flood plain, a number of specific landscaping and stormwater management principles have been implemented, such as balancing the project level relative to the original natural terrain without adding soil from outside, using (semi-)permeable pavement where possible, temporarily buffering runoff stormwater, and strictly limiting the outflow rate at the outlet of each buffer basin.
The façade of Building B7 consists of a dark brick base, topped by a fully glazed façade. The architectural goal of the latter was to create a perfectly coplanar outer shell (a mix of extra-clear enamel non-translucent glazing and extra-clear laminated translucent glazing), with no visible mechanical fixing profiles or visible sealing of the open joints between the windows.
This glazed skin consists of a tubular aluminum frame suspended from the structure of the building, which allowed panels (windows) of enamel or transparent glass to be mechanically attached. The glazing is glued to frames in extruded aluminum profiles, which were pre-assembled in the workshop.
The transparent window elements combine several glazed panels or consist of a single glazed panel. They also allow the cavities between the exterior transparent glazing and the interior double-glazed frames to "breathe" by means of vents with small stainless steel mesh filters. The cavity thus created between the outward-opening windows and the fixed interior frames is "breathable" and also includes geometric shading with motorized fabric roll-up screens. On the inside, the fixed frames are perfectly aligned with the interior finish of the facades (sandwich panels and finished concrete walls).
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