The Lundquist Institute / Medical Research Laboratory 1

APPROACH
The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation Medical Research Laboratory 1 Medical Research Laboratory 1 is a 79,750 SF landmark facility designed as the centerpiece of the Lundquist Institute’s 10.25-acre campus in Torrance, California. Housing laboratories, public gathering areas, event spaces, food service, and specialty programs, the project required an experiential graphics and donor recognition program that could express the Institute’s mission while supporting a welcoming and forward-looking research environment.

A strategy grounded in connectivity, discovery, and recognition shaped the design approach. Experiential graphics were integrated across the site approach and within key public areas to communicate the Institute’s purpose of advancing healthcare through biomedical innovation, fostering future researchers, and promoting wellness. A large-scale gilded lobby installation interprets molecular structures as a symbol of scientific connection and collaboration, while the Legends Walk along the entry promenade honors groundbreaking researchers through permanently embedded bronze recognition panels. Additional donor moments and branded elements, including the Terrabite café identity, extend a consistent visual language throughout the campus experience.

OUTCOME
The result is a refined and mission-driven environment that reinforces the Lundquist Institute’s identity as a leader in biomedical discovery. The graphics program transforms public and transitional spaces into moments of inspiration, recognition, and connection, celebrating both scientific achievement and future possibility. By integrating donor recognition and branded experiences into the architecture, the project creates a lasting sense of pride and purpose for researchers, staff, visitors, and supporters.

Work completed under ZGF Architects LLP