To maximize useable space on a tight, urban site with a building height restriction, floor-to-floor heights were minimized and vertical chases for mechanical services were distributed to accommodate an additional floor within the building. Another challenge was the building's close proximity to the Medical Area Total Energy Plant. To eliminate significant ground vibrations caused by the power plant, the building was placed in its own vibration-free, below-grade box. This cushioning foundation enables delicate research activities to be performed without interference.

The research program requires simple, generic, well-serviced laboratory space with flexible, open wall space and a minimum of fixed benchwork. A 10'6" laboratory module regulates the plan. The lab modules accommodate equipment and moveable tables for maximum flexibility and control because the researchers wanted more control over their equipment than the standard placement in common support areas would provide. A typical laboratory floor houses thirteen generic laboratories along three sides, with the fourth containing conference and communal office space, and the core containing common support space.

The lab spaces are generic to provide maximum flexibility for assignment to researchers, and to make future reassignment possible with minimal changes. Labs can also be combined or sub-divided by removing or adding walls at each lab bench without altering lighting or mechanical systems. Two different laboratory styles--on separate floors with the same footprint--are used because research is conducted by both the Institute and the sister hospital. The open and closed lab areas reflect the distinct styles and needs of the two research institutions, while providing each with functional flexibility.

The new building establishes a recognizable architectural identity for the Institute. Its exterior glass and granite curtain wall complements existing buildings on campus, while a transparent pedestrian bridge links the Smith Labs to the Institute's interconnecting bridge/tunnel network. A landscaped pedestrian arcade gives new liveliness and scale to the building's street level in this dense, urban area.