b'Construction briefingGeneralThe Maersk tower in Copenhagen is a large research and education facility of the University of Copenhagen. The building, which occupies a prominent location in the city centre, houses the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. A major extension of the building was needed to provide room for new laboratories and teaching facilities. The project also provided an opportunity to create a new canteen, a large bicycle parking area and a new entrance for the entire complex. Two briefs were written for the project: first a competition brief by The Danish University and Property Agency, and then a detailed project brief by the selected design team.Strategic Functional TechnicalThe competition brief for theThe functional requirements forA lot of the technical project stated that its objectivethe project put a lot of emphasisrequirements in the brief are was to create a new setting foron the interaction betweenrelated to the lab spaces, many world-class international healthresearchers in the building. of which were required toscience knowledge production.According to the brief, aaccommodate specialist Reflecting the increasedstandard research floor shouldresearch on genetic importance of external funding,ideally accommodate threemodification.the brief stated that the newresearch groups, of 15 peopleAmongst other things, such research facilities should helpeach, who would then share aresearch comes with stringent the university to attract morecommon zone containing a lunchcontainment requirements. The grants and more partnershipsroom, kitchenette, conferencebrief specified, for example, with external companies. On top rooms and informal meet/workthat there should be a negative of that, the brief emphasizedspots. The distance betweenpressure differential between that the new facilities shouldthese shared facilities and thethe lab and outside rooms and help the university to attractwork areas of the researchersthat special air filters shouldfirst-rate researchers from thehad to be short. The brief stated:be installed to avoid genetic international research elite. Experience shows that if thematerial escaping the lab In terms of architectural distance to such functions spaces via air flows. Other quality, the university explicitlyis too great, they do nottypical technical requirements noted that it was looking support the researchers socialwere that all finishes should for a high-rise structure with abehaviour. Other functionalbe resistant to disinfectants slender and elegant requirements related to theand that any joints should be composition and convincingflexibility of lab and officecompletely sealed to make sure sculptural qualities. Thespaces. Floors should be easilythe rooms were gas- tight. building was to become nothingadjustable to accommodate the less than a landmark for world- frequent changes in research class health research, whichprogrammes. The brief used will form part of Copenhagensthe term dance floor to refer urban landscape and skyline.to a concept of flexible floors on which mobile lab furniture and equipment can be freely positioned.241'