Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Biological & Environmental Integration Center

Managed by the University of California, the renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) operates under the auspices of the Department of Energy with a mission to bring science solutions to the world. Its newest building—and SmithGroup’s fourth major design commission on the Lab’s main campus—the Biological and Environmental Program Integration Center has a very specific role in that mission. BioEPIC has been developed to bring together approximately 200 scientists from four complementary research programs to understand how microbial communities interact and influence  Earth’s climate. Its studies occur at field sites throughout the country and in highly controlled laboratory environments.

BioEPIC unites scientists from Berkeley Lab’s Biosciences and Earth & Environmental Sciences Areas, sharing a suite of next-generation research tools for carefully controlled experiments on microbe/soil/plant interactions, as well as instruments and computing infrastructure that connect BioEPIC to its field research sites. These unique climate research environments, along with three additional levels of labs and collaborative spaces, are housed in an all-electric facility that achieves high standards of efficiency and resiliency.

The ground floor of BioEPIC features several unusual study environments. It includes three rooms to house EcoPODs, chambers where researchers can conduct plant-microbe-soil experiments in highly controlled conditions, each equipped with a multitude of sensors. The design and engineering team worked closely with the client to meet the evolving requirements of these emerging technologies. Another room houses a robotic system called the EcoBOT that manipulates and sample smaller fabricated ecosystems (EcoFABs), designed to reduce variability in plant-microbe experiments. A high bay houses a Berkeley Lab-designed SMARTSoils testbed, where tractor-trailer–sized samples of soil ecosystems are delivered to the site, then tilted and otherwise manipulated to replicate real-world conditions that researchers can intricately monitor in a controlled laboratory setting.

A rooftop greenhouse provides a unique space for researchers to conduct larger-scale plant experiments that were previously limited by the size constraints of indoor growth chambers. By allowing scientists to work with bigger plants directly onsite, this greenhouse eliminates the need for rented offsite facilities, enhancing the scale and scope of climate-impact studies conducted within BioEPIC.

The second, third, and fourth levels comprise flexible open lab modules, support labs and office/conferencing space. All three floors are fully transparent from south to north exterior facades, providing ample daylight and views, encouraging collaboration and enabling BioEPIC to share its federally funded work effectively through public tours.

 BioEPIC exceeds the high sustainability standards of Berkeley Lab and surpasses California code for energy efficiency by 48 percent. The all-electric MEP system taps into the modular utility plant (MUP) built for the adjacent Integrative Genomics Building, also designed by SmithGroup. It uses advanced cooling technology called chilled beams, which circulate chilled water through ceiling-mounted units to cool rooms quietly and efficiently. Heat pumps are used for space and water heating, making use of the waste heat generated in the building. A high-performance building envelope with horizontal fins and overhanging soffits further reduces the building's operational carbon footprint, making the building exceptionally energy-efficient and a model of sustainability in modern design.

By supporting an array of unique research needs in this highly sustainable setting, the BioEPIC building supports Berkeley Lab’s commitment to reducing its climate, waste, and water footprint.