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This parcel marks SOM’s second commissioned project with the Shenzhen-side campus, following the firm’s earlier competition win for Parcel N-02, which established the design prototype for the broader development. In addition to leading the design of both parcels, SOM serves as master architect for the entire campus, guiding architectural coherence and design principles across all parcels within the park.

Titled The Beacon of the Valley (翠谷航标), the project will become a prominent gateway to the site and serves as the capstone of the master plan on the Shenzhen side of the river, directly facing the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park across the water. Designed as a next-generation, research-and-development science park for biomedicine and interdisciplinary sciences, the project reimagines the conventional laboratory space by proposing a new prototype. Rather than isolating researchers from their surroundings, the master plan curates connections between science and nature at multiple scales—from immersive arrival gardens that welcome visitors to the site, to lobby spaces framing expansive views into tree-filled central courtyards, to collaboration spaces within the towers that open toward the Hong Kong mountains and the Shenzhen River. Shaded outdoor terraces extend life beyond the lab, offering places for connection and respite, even during the region’s hot summers and rainy seasons. These layered experiences create an oasis of science and technology that fosters connection, dialogue, and fellowship within a high-density urban environment. “Our goal was to redefine the modern laboratory by immersing researchers in ecological environments,” said Design Partner Michael Duncan, “The development mirrors the tranquility of a Shenzhen botanical garden, creating a synergy between technical rigor and environmental harmony that supports focused research with the benefits of a strong biophilic design.”
The facility is engineered for long-term resilience, adaptable in its response to market changes and technological innovations. Managing Partner Larry Chien noted, “The design seamlessly aligns high-performance laboratory planning with streamlined process flows. By utilizing a modular framework, we have ensured the facility remains agile and timeless, allowing it to evolve with shifting market demands.”

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Our second Merit Award recipient is the new Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, the largest research facility on Rice University’s historic core campus, providing students with technology-rich facilities that embody the University’s goal to stay at the forefront of scientific discovery. Described AIA California, “The jury admires the attention to access to daylight and fresh air, and selection of healthy and resilient materials aimed at reducing carbon emissions and minimizing chemicals of concern within the indoor air environment.” Complementing the surrounding historic buildings, the new building features a facade of articulated brick pilasters and fins. Completed in September 2023, the building has already become a new center of gravity for campus activity, enriching the academic and social experience.
Learn more about both projects and the awards below.

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Texas Architect dives into the creative brick-and-punched-window composition, articulated by a series of angled brick pilasters and fins. We see design repetition in the stunning veil assembly, a custom brise-soleil that realizes the same pattern yet offers ventilation. The result: mitigated solar heat gain, reflected natural light, and a reduction of glare inside.
The final assembly not only enriches the building’s aesthetic and provides thermal comfort for pedestrians, but also it provides a sense of scale to one of the campus’ largest buildings. Read on for more about the technical aspects of this new academic and social hub design.

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At 250,000 square feet, the Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science is the largest research facility in Rice University’s historic core campus, providing users with technology-rich facilities that embody the University’s goal to stay at the forefront of scientific discovery.

Passive and active design strategies reduce the building’s carbon footprint and promote a healthy environment. The design reduces energy demand by maximizing daylight while limiting solar heat gain through a solar-responsive enclosure. The building is composed of a series of angled pilasters and vertical brick fins that strategically allow an appropriate amount of daylight to enter the perimeter offices and penetrate further into the lab fronts. In addition, a series of skylights above the arcade redirects and softens the strong Texas sun. Thanks to these passive design strategies and an energy efficient HVAC and lighting system, the laboratories use less than 50 percent energy than a comparable research space.
The project teams will be honored on May 20 during the Lab Design Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

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“The project submission told the story of this complex reinvention of Wellesley’s science hub extremely well and hit all Design Excellence objectives,” the jury wrote. “The team took an outdated science facility that had been added to many times and consumed more energy than any other building on campus and transformed it into a state-of-the-art, beautifully designed center with different nodes and hubs for student exploration and learning.”

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