The power of solar facades for life science and campus buildings

The rapid growth of the life sciences sector is driving strong demand for modern, flexible, and sustainable laboratory facilities. In the Netherlands, the number of life sciences companies has grown by 29% and the sector's real estate footprint by over 27% since 2015, creating a structural shortage of high-quality lab space across major science campuses.

While new developments are needed, redevelopment of existing facilities is also becoming increasingly important as laboratory functions evolve. At the same time, laboratories are among the most energy-intensive building types, consuming up to ten times more energy than offices due to continuous operations, advanced ventilation, and strict climate control requirements. As sustainability expectations, investor demands, and regulations continue to increase, developing energy-efficient and future-proof life sciences buildings has become a key priority.

In this context, solar facades offer a promising solution. By integrating renewable energy generation directly into the building envelope, they help life science buildings reduce their environmental impact while maintaining the architectural quality and functionality required for advanced research facilities.