Good news from the Healthy Ageing Campus: the new Central Laboratory for Diagnostics and Research (CLDR) has reached another important milestone. With this sustainable laboratory building, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and the University of Groningen are investing in a future-proof environment where healthcare, research and education reinforce one another and drive new innovations. Read the full story from UMCG Bouwt below.
UMCG is continuing the development of the new Central Laboratory for Diagnostics and Research (CLDR). Over the coming period, the preliminary design will be further developed into a final design, bringing the realization of the new laboratory building another step closer.
With the CLDR, UMCG and the University of Groningen are investing in the healthcare of tomorrow. The building will bring laboratory diagnostics, scientific research and education together in one location. By combining these functions, it will create an environment where knowledge sharing, collaboration and innovation come naturally. This integration will enable new diagnostic developments to be translated more quickly into everyday patient care. Researchers, laboratory specialists, healthcare professionals and students will work in close proximity, allowing new insights to lead more rapidly to improved diagnostics, new treatment options and more efficient healthcare processes.
The new CLDR will also provide shared access to advanced equipment and facilities. This will not only strengthen the quality and continuity of diagnostics and research, but also promote the efficient use of resources and expertise. In doing so, the CLDR will further reinforce the position of UMCG and the University of Groningen as a leading centre for diagnostics, health research, innovation and education, delivering direct benefits to patients in the Northern Netherlands and beyond.
Sustainability plays a central role in the design of the CLDR. The building will feature a timber load-bearing structure, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions compared with traditional construction methods. Energy-efficient building systems and a connection to a central thermal energy storage system will ensure efficient and future-proof energy use. In addition, the feasibility of a central freezer facility is being explored, reducing the need for individual freezers. This will lower energy consumption while improving the reliability of storing valuable samples and research materials.
The area surrounding the CLDR will also be designed with sustainability in mind. Green roofs, water retention measures and additional landscaping will contribute to an attractive, climate-resilient campus.
The CLDR will be much more than a new building. It will provide a dynamic environment where diagnostics, research and education strengthen one another, and where professionals, researchers and students work together on innovations that shape the healthcare of tomorrow. In doing so, the CLDR will make an important contribution to better patient care, talent development and the continued growth of the Healthy Ageing Campus Groningen.
Text: umcgbouw.nl
Image: Artist's impression of the new CLDR. Design by NUDUS Architects.
