Plus Ultra III

Wageningen, Netherlands

Add To Collection

Other Projects by Proof of the sum

Add To Collection

Milence Truck Charging

Plus Ultra III

Wageningen, Netherlands

Firm

Proof of the sum

Type

Commercial › Office
Educational › University
Industrial › Laboratory

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

Plus Ultra III is the first laboratory building in the Netherlands constructed predominantly from timber. Located on Wageningen Campus, the multi-tenant innovation building is designed to stimulate interaction between students, researchers, start-ups, scale-ups and established companies working in the fields of food, agriculture and sustainability. The building brings together laboratories, offices, pilot plants and compact “tiny labs” for students within one shared environment, creating an active ecosystem for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

The six-storey building is organised around a central atrium that functions as the social heart of the project. Shared meeting spaces, co-working areas, pantries and informal work zones encourage daily encounters between users and strengthen the exchange between research, education and entrepreneurship. Through its integration within the wider campus environment, the building supports both formal and informal collaboration across disciplines.

A key ambition of the project was to demonstrate that even highly technical laboratory environments can be realised using biobased construction methods. The building combines CLT floors with mainly timber columns and beams, resulting in a low-carbon structural system that stores approximately 195 kilograms of CO₂ per square metre through biogenic carbon storage. To meet the strict technical requirements associated with laboratory spaces, special engineering measures were integrated for vibration control, structural spans and the coordination of large ventilation systems.

Material innovation continues in the façade, which is clad with 12,000 recycled plastic shingles developed specifically for the project in collaboration with Pretty Plastic. The “Basic Third” tiles are made from 100% recycled PVC and transform approximately 31,000 kilograms of post-consumer plastic waste into a durable architectural material. Their modular dimensions align with the construction logic of utility and laboratory buildings, enabling fast installation, minimal cutting waste and straightforward replacement.

Through the combination of timber construction, circular materials and a strong focus on community and adaptability, Plus Ultra III demonstrates how sustainable innovation buildings can support both advanced research and meaningful social interaction.