Wave One, of the European Center for Families, is located 400 meters (a quarter mile) from the Baltic Sea in what is historically known as a health resort town. The concept derives from the complexity of sea waves and the local vernacular of carved ornamental detailing on facade elements. Drawing from this, the architects created a site concept composed of five inter-related buildings, reminiscent of waves. Wave One, the first to be built after a lengthy design and construction process, encompasses specialized medical laboratories including SARS-CoV-2 testing labs, a research & development center and administration spaces.

Form:
The white perforated facade, enfolding Wave One, was partly inspired by a series of photographs by Pierre Carreau titled AquaViva. The architects analyzed the geometric complexity of the sea waves, the arched 3D forms frozen in time as captured by the photographer and translated their observations into an architectural language that shaped the building’s final form. The North/south elevations echos, the seemingly homogenous plane of a wave. With 1,362 perforated triangular panels, the facade bends at its crest, the top of the building.
The panels perforations are a symbolic gesture in reference to:
1) the local tradition of placing ornamental details carved in wood on buildings’ facade, 2) flower of life, an ancient motif credited with healing powers, befitting the healthcare
function of the investment.
The panels perforations made it possible to bring about an airiness and dissipation of the building in space, particularly visible in the upper realm of the facade.
The East/west elevations take on 3D form with triangular panels of sintered white ceramics, skewing and reflecting sunlight onto the pavement, creating a transient detail, and enlivening the immediate surroundings of the building.
Equally, curvature - a reference to the concavity of a sea wave - inspired the shape of the building mass. The amply curved canopy over the South entrance was digitally 3D modelled by the architects then submitted to the local contractors to prepare one-to-one mock-ups. Adjustment were made on-site in order to create a seamless union with adjacent panels and ensure the fluidity of the perforated pattern. A painstaking task, since curvature and deviation from the vertical are along both axes of the facade, not excluding the additional presence of operable shutters.

Function per floor:
Below ground: cold and reagent stores, server and technical rooms.
Ground floor: lobby, collection point, medical analytical laboratory with fully automated digital laboratory equipment based on robotic sorting lines.
First floor: molecular biology laboratory carrying out research in the field of genetics. Cytology, cytogenetics and virological laboratory is adjacent.
Second floor: research and development center. This center also creates specialized software to streamline implementation and increase accessibility of medical procedures. The software is based on the technology of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Third floor: Investor headquarters and offices intended for the development of research projects. Terrace: divided into technical and recreational by an acoustically insulating wall. The recreational terrace is available to all employees and provides work place well-being and a visual connection to the Baltic Sea.
Due to the difficult situation in 2020 a decision was made during construction, to convert part of the space into a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics lab. This laboratory continues to be used to determine new types of mutations. A vaccination point was organized in the building and used by the inhabitants of Sopot.

Impact:
The ecological solutions selected for the project result directly from local conditions and respond to the actual demand determined by the function of the building.
Due to the difficult construction conditions of Lower Sopot, including flooding, high groundwater levels and the presence of non-bearing soil, the site remained undeveloped for years.
Heat management.
In a facility with such a high saturation of technological equipment, many of which have to work 24 hours a day, it is very important to protect the rooms from overheating. Too high temperatures inside the building not only cause discomfort, but can also trigger a sudden shutdown of laboratory equipment. This, in turn, usually leads to the discontinuity of the analysis cycle and the loss of the precious research material.
In order to avoid such threats and at the same time to prevent enlarging the cooling systems, a number of passive solutions were uses. For instance, the architects resigned from large glass surfaces. Instead, the surface area of the windows designed, provides the optimal natural lighting conditions for the laboratory rooms. The largest room, in which the technological line generates the greatest amounts of heat was placed, was located on the North side.
Further, the building façade is built of two layers. The outer layer of the facade acts as a continuous protective barrier over the building, shielding the exterior wall from heating up and the interior rooms from overheating. This barrier also has a positive effect on the surroundings. It prevents the urban heat island phenomenon.
Rain water management.
Several solutions to rainwater management were introduced. An extensive rainwater retention system and buffer tank, were installed. The water collection from the tank is used to flush the
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WAVE 1 - Project Description
toilets, thereby limiting the use of water from the municipal network. Also, to avert rainwater contamination, external wooden elements were used that do not require chemical treatments.

Adaptation.
The interiors, in particular lab rooms, were designed to adapt to the frequent technological advances in medical diagnostic services that will inevitably be introduced in the future. As such, rooms where laboratory tests are performed inside closed automated lab devices have exposed ceiling installations. Partition walls in laboratories are built in a way to ease their dismantling. The resin floor is easy to repair and supplement if the room arrangement changes. The structure of the building itself, allows for the implementation of new system shafts, and in those already made, there is a reserve for new installations. A reserve was also left for the installation of new systems on the technical terrace. All these procedures will significantly reduce the time needed to install new laboratory equipment in the future.
[Conclusion]
Construction continues on three out of the five buildings planned for the site. The final building is in the design phase. Once completed, the ECR complex of health care facilities will comprise: an outpatient hospital with an operating theatre, treatment unit and an IVF laboratory, specialist inpatient hospital with a gynecology and obstetrics profile, delivery and neonatal unit, rehabilitation center including rehabilitation pool and cold therapy via a Cryo chamber. Construction works are expected to be completed in 2023.