Sustainable Lab Buildings

Plus Ultra III is a multi-tenant building on the Wageningen University & Research campus in the Netherlands designed by Proof of the Sum and developed by Kadans Science Partner. The structure is destined to house laboratories, pilot plants, offices, and shared facilities within a roughly 7,600-square-metre footprint. The building’s primary structure uses cross-laminated timber, making it one of the first CO₂-negative laboratory buildings of its kind in the country. Window openings and circulation areas are integrated into the volumetric arrangement to support daylight penetration and functional flows throughout the plan.

A notable feature of Plus Ultra III is its exterior cladding, which uses “Basic Third” façade panels made from 100-percent recycled PVC developed in collaboration with Pretty Plastic. These modular tiles are designed to install onto the timber substrate and are demountable to support future reuse. The project also incorporates solar panels, geothermal energy storage, and landscape elements intended to enhance nature inclusivity on site.

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