POLO wins competition for KU Leuven & UC Leuven Chemistry Research Building

POLO has been selected to design the new Chemistry Research Building for KU Leuven and UC Leuven (UCLL). The competition-winning proposal presents a compact, flexible, and sustainable laboratory building conceived as a “machine à explorer”, where architecture, structure, and technology come together in a rational and coherent way.

The new building will provide approximately 7,200 m² of gross floor area, organized to accommodate two complementary worlds under one roof. The public zone, located on the ground floor and first level, houses UCLL’s educational facilities and research laboratories. This part of the building fosters interaction, collaboration and knowledge sharing, with labs, classrooms and meeting areas where students, teachers and researchers come together.

Above, KU Leuven’s research facilities and offices occupy levels +2 and +3. Designed for focus and concentration, this non-public zone features laboratories and research spaces that meet the specific requirements of scientific work. A shell floor (+4) of about 800 m² offers flexibility for future adaptation or expansion, while a technical crown (+5) consolidates all building systems to keep the structure compact.

This layered organization not only ensures a clear functional separation between the two institutions but also encourages natural vertical collaboration within a single, efficient volume.

The spatial organization is guided by functionality, efficiency, and legibility. The L-shaped volume represents the first phase of a potential U-shaped complex and embraces a central courtyard that serves as a meeting space linking education, research, and broader campus life. This courtyard strengthens the connection between inside and outside, brings daylight deep into the building and creates informal interaction zones. The main entrance is highlighted by a double-height covered area, a so-called deferred entrance, giving the building a clear and welcoming presence within the campus.

The design brings both clients’ ambitions together: UCLL as an engaging learning environment, and KU Leuven as a research-focused workplace, combined within a sustainable and future-ready building.