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UCLA Plant Growth Center

Nearly two-thirds of the American population takes a botanical dietary supplement or nutraceutical health product. Although this $86 billion dollar industry continues to grow, there is still little scientific research to substantiate the true health benefits of these popular supplements. The research laboratory, supported by a grant from the National Institutes for Health, establishes a new type of building, adapting commercial greenhouse systems to create a research facility for scientific study of nutritional plant physiology and nutraceutical genetics - unlocking the potential of plant materials for promoting health. The site overlaps a revered botanical garden at the edge of campus, so we carefully designed the massing of the building to minimize nighttime visibility and to share support services for the garden.

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Aerial photography of the Flight 93 National Memorial site
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Aerial photography of the Flight 93 National Memorial site
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The project uses a different formal language than is normally seen in this building typology to successfully transform a kit of parts into a rich environment.

—Next LA Award Jury

The lightly textured masonry foundation greatly enhances the design of what would otherwise be a simple utilitarian glass structure. The masonry foundation was also a nice solution for anchoring the building to a challenging site.

—Concrete Masonry Award Jury

PROJECT INFORMATION

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Owner: UC Los Angeles
Commissioned: 2001
Completed: 2003

TEAM MEMBERS

Paul Murdoch
Eric Cunningham

RECOGNITION

2004 Merit Award, Concrete Masonry Association
2003 $2.5M Grant, National Institutes for Health
2001 NEXT/LA Award, AIA Los Angeles Chapter