Innovation Centre

The Debrecen Innovation Centre is located on the university campus and functions as an incubator house for researchers and startup companies where they can all cooperate in a number of projects varying from theoretical research to prototype building.

The main idea was that the design of the building must serve the success of research in all aspects. Quiet, peaceful creative work is also part of research, just like information sharing or the ever so inspiring collective thinking. The building does its best to serve these functional needs with its simple and clear structure.

The building structure is like a reliable, heavy-duty shelving system that can coordinate the complicated network ofinformation technology society. It is a hub of knowledge that provides a meeting point for various people and organizations during their research. The concept is a specifically simple and flexible answer to a versatile and time varying need.

The rectangular, three-story building is surrounded by two artificial hills in the longitudinal direction. With this landscape solution the building, right next to a sunflower field, is in a central yet protected location. The hidden spaces of the hills provide perfect space for HVAC and storage facilities for bicycles. The three main functions provided by the program: manufacturing, community life and research areas are layered on top of each other on the three floors. Entrance is through a bridge to the middle floor.

In spite of its simple format the building resembles the structure of a town.

The functional structure of the building is similar to a town’s. The middle floor is like the main square, where communal functions such as the canteen, lounge areas, meeting rooms and co-working zones can be found. This is the meeting point, the place to exchange information, it has a central role in the structure therefore it was designed in a clean and airy style. This floor has a glass facade and balconies all around. Due to the network-like layout plan a staircase can be erected basically in any available raster field for connecting the levels furthermore. Vertical access is positioned in different spots on all floors making it unavoidable to cross the main square.

The frame of the building is designed so as to adjust easily to the different functional needs.

The researcher’s offices are positioned on the upper level. This floor also has a glass facade and balconies. Triangle shaped shades go along the outer side of the balcony and can be moved vertically from the top or the bottom. These also give the facade playfulness. Manufacturing spaces are located on the bottom floor, bellow everything else. It is a factory-like floor plan that is surrounded by a service road. A reinforced concrete frame structure on this floor supports the light frame structures of the other two floors. For the upper floor the use of wood, as a renewable building material was a conscious decision from both an architectural and environmental aspect. The inner acoustic surfaces are made of selectively collected, recyclable waste. This could motivate the campus dwellers to think responsibly and act environment-consciously.

An air-water heat pump and a heat recovery air vent system provide the comfort of the building. Solar panels are positioned on the roof to supply the energy for the heat pumps. As a result, a flexible and innovative engineering concept was created, that can serve both function and be economical.