A striking new research facility for biotechnology company Adimab has been completed in Lebanon, New Hampshire, featuring an innovative combination of timber construction and mirrored panels that creates what architects describe as a "supernatural" visual effect. The 27,000-square-foot building was designed by Sylvia Richards Practice for Architecture to seamlessly blend with its forested setting while preserving an adjacent wetland.
The three-story rectangular building serves as the first purpose-built research facility for Adimab, a biotech company that develops antibodies for infectious and autoimmune diseases. Since its founding in 2007, the company has experienced significant growth and become a global leader in its field, expanding its workforce to over 140 employees and creating the need for additional laboratory and support spaces.
Located in New Hampshire's Upper Valley region, known for its verdant landscapes and proximity to Dartmouth College, the facility demonstrates innovative sustainable design principles. The architects chose to build vertically rather than horizontally to provide ample square footage while maintaining a compact footprint that respects the sensitive environmental surroundings.
The building's structural system utilizes mass timber construction, including cross-laminated timber (CLT) for shear walls and decking, along with a glue-laminated post-and-beam system. All wooden structural elements remain exposed, creating what the design team describes as "elemental" building components that are "plainly visible" as parts of a cohesive whole.
The exterior facade features a rain screen made of sustainably harvested Atlantic cedar, composed primarily of vertical boards with some placed at angles to add visual interest. Bronze screening and large windows framed with white oak and aluminum complement the cedar cladding. According to the studio, "the rendering of the exterior materials is crisp and light, accentuating architectural materiality and tectonics."
The most striking design element is the building's base level, which is wrapped in mirrored panels that create an optical illusion. This treatment "disconnects the building from the ground, allowing the upper two stories to float lightly above the landscape while it reflects the surrounding nature in its mirror," the architects explained. They describe the effect as "supernatural and surreal, challenging the basic tenets of what a building is and how it relates to its surroundings."
To address parking needs while protecting the wetland, the architects created a distinctive 182-foot-long sinuous ramp that winds through the woods, connecting the employee parking lot to the building. Constructed from steel, including Corten steel, the walkway was inspired by artist Richard Serra's monumental forms. The ramp "provides an elevated, winding path through the woods that employees pass through upon entering the workplace," creating a unique arrival experience.
Inside the facility, the design accommodates a mix of laboratories, meeting rooms, lounges, and office areas with open seating. A central focal point is an open staircase constructed from black steel and white oak. Despite the substantial materials, the architects note that "the resulting assembly is surprisingly warm and light" rather than heavy or imposing.
Unlike typical laboratory buildings that are often inward-facing with limited natural light, this facility features large windows in the lab spaces that "connect scientists to the woodland setting." The interior material palette extends the sustainable theme with carpeting and wall coverings made from natural wool, complementing the exposed mass timber structure.
The project represents a growing trend in mass timber construction across the United States, joining recent projects such as a theater by Mecanoo at Massachusetts' Jacob's Pillow performing arts campus and a nonprofit headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, designed by S9 Architecture. The building was photographed by Timothy Downing of Design & Co., showcasing how contemporary architecture can achieve both functional excellence and environmental harmony.
