AUDB in a Joint Venture with specialist project team from the Department of Architecture at Izmir University of Economics completed two new incubator buildings at Izmir Bilimpark in the Menderes region of Izmir. The project was carried out in collaboration with both ITOB and the Ministry of Industry, and forms part of a wider initiative by the Turkish Government to develop university oriented technological incubator initiatives. Ekrem Demirtas, president of Izmir Chamber of Commerce said:

"Izmir Chamber of Commerce is proud to be involved in this initiative. It is good for Turkey to recognise the important role that research and development has in the future of the hi-tech industry and the future of our country. The project will help to establish closer links between universities and industry by creating facilities for new start-up firms and young hi-tech companies."

The challenge of high tech incubator research buildings is the continual evolution of technology leading to ever changing programmatic needs of the building spaces. The buildings are based on a simple modular building system with lightweight internal partitions and exposed services. This approach would allow for optimum flexibility of program.

The completed phase 1 buildings were designed to provide a variety of office spaces, research labs and associated multi-purpose areas for knowledge exchange. Although the two buildings are separate, they are linked by a series of bridges. The structure is unusual for Izmir as it employs the use of a steel frame that is configured as a system of V shaped alternating steel columns. The structure contains additional bracing to help withstand earthquakes. The building also employs solar shading and insulation strategies in the rain-screen cladding to minimise the buildings reliance upon non-renewable energy sources.

The completed buildings form the first of 3 phases of the Bilim Park Development. For the 2nd phase the ITOP Bilim Park site will provide 6,600 m2 of tech industry production units and 4,250 m2 of offices and research laboratories following a master-plan designed by AUDB. The 3rd and final phase of the Techno Park will be located at the new university campus.

Ekrem Demirbas has said that this initiative well help to address the needs of Turkey’s growing young population by increasing higher education provision and at the same time linking with hi-tech research and development facilities that will help to promote entrepreneurial skills for young start-up companies.

AUDB (Architecture & Urban Design Bureau) is a London based design office specializing in emerging technology in contemporary architectural practice.

Design Team

Architects; Gudjon Erlendsson (AUDB) & Özlem Akın (IEU)
Project Architect/project manager; Hüsnü Alpan
Design Team; Mehtap Altuğ, Cemre Akalın, Erin Yıldırım, Ertunç Hünkar
Structural Engineers; Ardalis Ltd.Şti.
Service Engineers; Electricity : Özyavru Ltd.Şti., Mechanics : Gültay Ltd.Şti.
Main Contractor: Kuryap Ltd. Şti.
Control: İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi Denetim Ekibi / Arch. Mehtap Altuğ, Civ. Eng. Berna Kaya, Elec. Eng. Tevfik Sungur, Mec. Eng. Nadir Tahta
Client; Izmir Bilim ve Teknoloji Park A.Ş.

Copyright © Gudjon Thor Erlendsson and Özlem Akın