Biomedical Science Research Building, Ann Arbor

The A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Science Research Building (BSRB), opened in 2006 on the University of Michigan’s Medical Campus, stands as a striking entryway linking the main campus and the medical district. Designed by Polshek Partnership (now Ennead Architects) in collaboration with SmithGroupJJR, its sculptural form is unmistakable-a curved glass ribbon for offices flowing alongside the terra cotta and metal-clad lab wings, all bridged by an airy, skylit atrium that fosters chance encounters and intellectual flow.

Inside, the BSRB houses approximately 240 modular labs, grouped into six thematic “neighbourhoods” such as neuroscience and cardiovascular science, along with around 120 offices. Shared spaces include 16 break rooms, 12 conference rooms, three combinable seminar rooms, and a two-level basement vivarium complete with imaging, animal care, and research support spaces. This spatial hierarchy encourages interdisciplinary dialogue-what Ennead refers to as “cross-fertilization of ideas”-as public circulation areas thread through the building, crossing between lab and office zones.

A highlight for visitors is the 300-seat Kahn Auditorium, affectionately known as “The Pringle” due to its chip-like form, which hosts lectures, symposia, and public events. The prominent curved facade is not just aesthetic; its double-glass curtain wall, shaded by an energy-efficient rainscreen, floods the interior with daylight, balancing refinement with environmental mindfulness.

The BSRB is the largest research facility on campus, over 470,000 square feet spanning a city block, its completion marked by an AIA Honor Award in 2007. It offers more than architectural impressiveness: a living portrait of modern scientific endeavour, blending innovative design with the pulse of biomedical discovery.