Nano-Bioanalytical Research Building, Dublin City University

Dublin City University commissioned MOLA Architecture to design a 3,000 sqm Nano-Bioanalytical Research Building to support emerging research in nanotechnology, microfabrication, nanophotonics and antibody production. The project forms part of the university’s ambition to strengthen its STEM and biotechnology capacity and to promote collaboration across scientific disciplines within a purpose-built environment.

The building accommodates a suite of highly specialised laboratories alongside academic workspaces, seminar rooms and shared research areas. The technical brief demanded rigorous acoustic separation, vibration isolation and finely controlled thermal performance to support sensitive apparatus such as scanning and atomic force microscopes, imaging systems and laser equipment.

Alongside its technical programme, the building incorporates a series of communal and exhibition spaces intended to promote interdisciplinary exchange and the dissemination of research within the university. Informal interaction is supported through shared circulation, seminar rooms and breakout areas, while glazing and controlled visual connections enhance legibility and research identity. The project contributes to DCU’s rapidly evolving science precinct and provides a robust and adaptable platform for future scientific growth.