BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CENTER

RECEPTION

Client Profile

HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences is a leading institution within the Houston Community College System, located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center. The college is dedicated to training the next generation of healthcare and life science professionals. With this new Biotechnology Innovation Center, Coleman College seeks to expand its academic and research infrastructure to support advanced biotechnology education and innovation. The Biotechnology Innovation Center will serve as a state-of-the-art educational and research hub that embodies the college’s commitment to technological advancement, hands-on learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It will support the growing demand for skilled biotech professionals and provide a platform for cutting-edge discovery.

Concept Statement

A biotechnology lab with a living, evolving system that grows alongside scientific discovery. It envisions an educational research environment where biology, technology, and human creativity are seamlessly integrated, forming a dynamic ecosystem that is both functional and inspiring. Drawing from nature’s adaptability, the space is designed to be modular, intelligent, and responsive. Organic forms meet cutting-edge technology, fostering intuitive collaboration and sustainable innovation. Flexible workspaces create a lab that not only supports research but actively enhances it. More than a workspace, this is a holistic research habitat—a fusion of science, sustainability, and design, where breakthroughs emerge naturally in an environment that is as alive as the discoveries within it.

IDEA SPACE

CLASSROOM

Design Process

The interior design process for the Biotechnology Innovation Center at HCC Coleman College started with research into the needs of students, faculty, and the biotechnology industry. We met with stakeholders, studied how biotech labs operate, and looked at leading facilities around the world. From this, we learned that the space needed to be flexible, forward-thinking, and inspiring—supporting both current research and future growth. A key challenge was finding the right balance between the technical demands of a high-performance lab and creating a space that felt welcoming and alive.

Our design concept focused on creating a “living, evolving system” that grows alongside scientific discovery. Inspired by nature, the space combines organic shapes with smart technology, resulting in a modular and adaptable environment. We wanted to create more than just a lab—we aimed to build a dynamic, creative ecosystem where collaboration and innovation happen naturally. One of the challenges here was blending biophilic design and lab safety requirements, making sure the space looked and felt inspiring while still meeting strict standards.

In the design development phase, we introduced flexible lab zones, movable furniture, and smart features like responsive lighting and real-time environmental monitoring. We also created shared collaboration spaces designed like natural ecosystems to support teamwork and idea-sharing. Sustainable, lab-safe materials were chosen to reflect natural textures while keeping the environment healthy and efficient. It was challenging to find materials that met both safety and aesthetic needs, and to make the space flexible without disrupting the building systems.

In the end, the result is a modern, functional, and inspiring space that reflects Coleman College’s vision for the future of biotechnology education. The new center supports hands-on learning, research, and innovation in a setting that feels alive and adaptive. This project showed how interior design can play a key role in supporting science, creativity, and growth—all in one evolving environment.

RCP