VISITING ADDRESS
De Boelelaan 1108
1081 HZ Amsterdam
Reception: +31 (0)6 52440359
Research
O|2 stands for oxygen and is, therefore, a symbol of life. In the O|2 Lab Building researchers from VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC - location VUmc jointly tackle socially relevant issues in the field of Human Health & Life Sciences in a state-of-the-art shared research environment. This will result in a mix of fundamental and applied scientific-medical research conducted by chemists, molecular biologists, analysts, biophysicists and bioinformaticians from the university and preclinical researchers from VUmc.
Interfaculty collaboration and meetings
Creating shared space for comparable research generates opportunities to strengthen the research profile and to improve research infrastructure. Cooperation will be fostered by sharing high-end research equipment and the shared use of service labs. The collective use of high-quality research facilities enables and encourages the efficient use of costly research facilities AND knowledge sharing and collaboration. For example, the building will bring together a large number of biochemical labs and synthesis labs, a radionuclide lab and an ML-III lab (this means it’s a place where you can work with organisms that cause non-fatal diseases) all under one roof. Part of the building is intended as Lab Hotel (Mylab@Ol2-concept): a place where partners or commercial parties for example can rent the use of office and laboratory facilities for a specific time.
Sustainability
The building has been designed to be as sustainable as possible. It will feature ‘future-proof’ laboratories with a high degree of flexibility - the ultimate tool for medical research. Cooling is achieved using water from the nearby Nieuwe Meer lake and other energy needs are met by VU Amsterdam/VUmc Energy Centre. O|2 has a sedum green roof, which absorbs water and provides insulation. The building’s structure lets in plenty of daylight, saving on the cost of artificial lighting.
Design and lay-out
The O|2 Lab Building is shaped like a large cube, with two cut-outs that provide light. Striking angled columns – steel pipes of between 18 and 20 metres in length – support the construction of the cut-out sections. An atrium at the heart of O|2 channels daylight into all areas of the building. The ground floor will function as an urban plaza with restaurants, an information centre, a conference hall, meeting rooms and a bicycle parking area. A parking garage has already been constructed beneath the building.
Science café
The Science café is located on the ground floor of the O|2 Lab building. Here you can have a nice breakfast, lunch, or coffee. There is a "pop-up" room where presentations can be given. This is also the place for an informal drink and joint activities. In the Eat Meet Work section, you can meet, give seminars, consult, but also have lunch and drinks.
See the opening times of all VU buildings.
