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Brains Unlimited is the first completed project of the development of Maastricht Health Campus. Built within the department of Cognitive Neuroscience of Maastricht University, it will provide a key space for brain research in the Netherlands.
Maastricht University aspires to consolidate its key position in the field of brain research and offers (external) researchers the use of advanced facilities. Flexibility of the building, a design by Wiegerinck Architects, was one of the requirements in view of the alternation and shift of users.
A flexible design
By examining costs, durability and various flooring systems, Arup came up with a solid design, using the space in the most efficient way. The design is flexible, energy efficient, and has a strong identity. Arup experts were responsible for structural advice, building services, fire engineering and building physics. Residual heat of the scanner laboratory is used to heating the climate ceilings in the educational and office spaces, which saves energy. The rainwater is put to use for flushing the toilets.
The building facilitates the research of the human brain by scientists, entrepreneurs and clinicians. The results of the studies undertaken at the new facility will support the development of new treatment, diagnostics and technologies in the fields of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis.
The program includes offices, laboratories, educational rooms and general rooms. The main building accommodates education space, offices and laboratories, with the adjacent scanner lab hosting three Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanners. The most important of these is the fMRI-scanner with an ultra high magnetic field of 9.4 tesla, which is one of only five examples in the world of this kind.
As well as extending the facilities for the department, the building also offers other (external) parties the possibility to make use of the facilities, via the foundation of Life Sciences Incubator Maastricht.
