“Innovations will originate to address important astronaut health risks.” Those were the words spoken at the opening of NASA’s Human Health and Performance Laboratory, also known as Research Building 21. Here we stand before a hub of scientific advancement. Research Building 21 plays a crucial role in supporting human exploration of deep space.
This isn’t just another building. Research Building 21 consolidates multiple aging facilities. It integrates them into one design. This enhances collaboration among scientists, clinicians, and engineers.
Look at the building’s orientation. It sits at an angle to both the street and the campus grid. This optimizes solar orientation. The design marks a bold departure from the existing NASA campus. The exterior uses high-tech functional forms, colors, and textures.
Notice the long windowless wall. It features a pattern of contrasting glossy and flat black stone. This design mimics a DNA sequence. It is a subtle nod to the building’s purpose. The exterior landscape evokes the solar system. It captures the dynamic movement of planets and moons.
Inside Research Building 21, the south wing houses bioanalytical laboratories. The north wing features flexible high-bay laboratories. These are for human performance evaluations. A two-story structure connects the wings. It houses administrative and collaborative spaces. Natural daylight is controlled in these areas.
The building was designed with efficiency in mind. Centralized corridors house utility operations. This keeps them separate from valuable laboratory spaces. This ensures scientific and mission protocols are not compromised.
Judith Hayes, chief of the Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, has said that this is the heart of NASA’s biomedical research. This is where scientists will further understand space physiology. They will also study behavioral health and space vehicle environments. All this supports astronaut health, safety, and performance.
HDR designed Research Building 21 to be flexible. It can adapt to evolving spaceflight needs. The facility addresses the physiological, environmental, and behavioral effects of spaceflight. These relate to hazards like microgravity, radiation, and isolation.
The NASA Building 21 project cost $58 million. It houses wet labs for Human Performance, Biomedical, and Environmental research. The facility supports ongoing medical operations. This includes both ground-based and in-flight activities. Research Building 21 identifies and mitigates risks to astronaut health in space.
Fun fact, Research Building 21 achieved LEED Silver Certification. It incorporates many innovative technological, sustainable, and energy-efficient features.
As you leave Research Building 21, consider its vital role. It ensures the health and safety of those who journey beyond Earth. It stands as a testament to human ingenuity. It embodies our commitment to exploring the unknown.