QuTech

growth 

QuTech is a collaboration between TU Delft and TNO and is currently housed in the building of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. When QuTech was founded in 2015, this was fine, but it now employs 350 people. As the demand for quantum research grows, the number of employees will only increase in the coming years. Our design facilitates the expected growth and even anticipates a possible expansion at the back of the building. The number of specialised laboratories for laser and cryo experiments can be expanded within the existing building. Because of the specific requirements, the location of these laboratories is already fixed; they are located on the first floor and the ground floor.

separate programmes 

Quantum research requires a very stable structure and an awful lot of installations, which also give off heat, vibrations and electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, we made a clear separation between the lab and office programme and placed the installations outside the building and on the top floor. Despite the large number of installations, we kept to the sustainability ambitions that TU Delft formulated for the campus. The university is aiming for a circular, CO2-neutral, climate-adaptive campus in 2030 - that's six years from now. Around the plot, the building manifests itself with the entrance on Kluyverpark and an inviting, transparent plinth on the corner.

concrete and timber construction 

QuTech will soon have about 13,500 square metres of floor space spread over four floors and the ground floor. A wide lane of stairs and mezzanine floors connects the main entrance on the ground floor with the top floor. The zoning of functions is further emphasised by the construction: the laboratory areas are made of concrete in order to meet vibration requirements, while the other parts of the building have a timber frame, which stores CO2 and has a warm appearance - the zoning is thus 'readable' from the construction. Also, despite the complex programme, the daylight-rich main route makes QuTech a bright building where users can easily find their way around.

daylight 

We ensure maximum daylight, making QuTech a pleasant building to work in as well as providing good orientation. The main route with the stairs catches daylight via the roof, the remainder of the roof is used for PV panels. The main route also combines functions: it connects and allows you to work, consult, lounge or catch up with a colleague. Despite the high energy demand of the users - quantum research requires helium-cooled cryo-chambers, extremely stable microclimate and fan-cooling units - we managed to design a virtually energy-neutral building.

sustainability 

Through these and other solutions, QuTech's design meets the sustainability requirements of TU Delft. Together with Buro Happold's consultants and QuTech's specialists, we opted, among other things, for custom-made cabins for the measuring equipment, which require less air supply, save energy and create stable conditions for the measuring equipment. And by working together at an early stage, MEP solutions (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) could be nicely integrated into the design.