Refurbishment of the institute of health national microbiology centre Building E-51. Majadahonda

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION SERVICES FOR THE CLADDING AND BUILDING ENVELOPE REFURBISHMENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTH NATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY CENTRE BUILDING 51 ON THE CARLOS III RESEARCH CAMPUS IN MAJADAHONDA, MADRID. SPAIN.

Location:  Carretera de Pozuelo a Majadahonda, Majadahonda, MADRID.

Owner: Carlos III Health Institute. Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness

Design: José Enrique Fombella Guillem and Marta Pastor Estébanez

Construction supervision: José Enrique Fombella Guillem

Date: 2020-Ongoing

This building was one of the first to be built on the Campus. The variety of volumes of diverse shape and composition that currently make up the whole, together with the apparatus and ducts that have been added on the façades, make the building look very shabby.

Moreover, the existing building’s thermo-hygrometric and acoustic conditions do not meet modern standards.

A large part of the building services needed to be renovated to meet the requirements of the building complex’s new uses. The absence of duct shafts required a design on the outside of the building, through the walls, with the ducts running vertically from the roof to the different floors.

Analysis of the building envelope revealed thermal and acoustic problems as well as a progressive deterioration of the façade materials. A comprehensive upgrade to improve the insulation of the entire envelope while improving stability and appearance was therefore essential and provided the opportunity to renew the appearance of the whole building, updating both its uses and its architecture.

The design proposes an insulating exterior cladding on the existing walls on all the façades, and a new skin of Deploye perforated metal cladding panels to achieve homogeneous composition and form, which the building currently lacks. At the same time, this cladding will protect the insulation, walls and windows from outside thermal and climate conditions and hide the building services. The expanded and perforated steel sheet will allow natural light into the building while mitigating direct sunlight at hotter times of the year. An accessible passage between this new skin and the building allows for maintenance and cleaning.