.png
)
Spread across 19 acres, Lupin Research Park (LRP) functions as the hub of the company’s global research activity. The center harbours a culture that fosters creativity and helps shape inventions into innovative commercial products. The R&D Block houses expansions of two groups - Novel Drug Discovery & Development (NDDD) and the Pharma R&D Group, along with administration/finance support. This park is built around the concept of ‘Open Labs’ that provides a conducive environment for research and development.
The structure has achieved a LEED Platinum rating by incorporating measures such as soil erosion prevention, rainwater channelling, sedimentation pits, and soil stabilisation. The design integrates the existing and proposed blocks into one holistic master plan, streamlined to the required circulation and adjacencies of functions.
The structure has achieved a LEED Platinum rating by incorporating measures such as soil erosion prevention, rainwater channelling, sedimentation pits, and soil stabilisation. The design integrates the existing and proposed blocks into one holistic master plan, streamlined to the required circulation and adjacencies of functions.
- Project Type Research & Development
- Project Name : LUPIN RESEARCH PARK
- Location : Pune
- Client Name: Lupin Limited (Lupin)
- Principal Architect & Designer: Ravindra Kumar & P R Dilip Kumar
- Design Team : Rakesh, Dilip, Ashwin
- Interior Designers: Venkataramanan Associates
- Landscape Consultant: SHMA, Thailand
- MEP & HVAC Consultants: Airtreatment Engineers, Chennai
- Lighting Designers: Vision lights, Pune
- Site Area : 5.5 acres
- Carpet area : 2,97,363 sft
- Photography Harshan Thomson
- Project Cost Appx : 198 crores
Nestled within Pune’s verdant and gently undulating landscapes, Lupin Research Park stands as an example of architecture shaped by the land it occupies. The 19-acre site is defined by its natural contours, with access provided from the Northwest and a terrain that descends ten metres from the Southeast to the Northwest, and another six metres from the Northeast to the Southwest. Instead of altering these gradients, the design embraces them and uses the slope as a core design feature. This creates natural tiers that guide the structural configuration of the laboratory wings, which results in each wing having a slightly different floor count. The topography becomes the foundation of a cohesive master plan in which existing buildings and new structures blend seamlessly. Circulation paths are placed with clarity, and important functional adjacencies are strengthened through this unified planning approach. Services are tucked into terrace levels so that the ground plane remains free for movement, landscape and open space.
The architectural idea arises from a shift in the way workplaces are imagined today. Moving away from enclosed and conventional office settings, the design adopts an open layout that encourages connection and a sense of belonging among the people who use the space. The intention was to create an environment that feels professional yet warm and structured yet flexible. Public and private areas transition smoothly into one another, supporting both focused work and informal social interaction. The main building has a basement and five floors arranged around a central corridor. This ensures that every workspace gains access to air, daylight and individual spatial character.
A central concrete spiral staircase, known as “the helix,” acts as both a functional and symbolic element. It ties the floors together and turns movement between levels into a spatial experience, encouraging people to use the stairs and cross paths with colleagues. Light also plays a significant role in shaping the interior. The combination of warm indoor lighting and wide views of the landscape reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day. This balance between natural and designed illumination creates a calm and clear atmosphere throughout the building.
The exterior is defined by a series of tall colonnades that provide both structural support and a strong architectural identity. As sunlight moves through the day, these colonnades cast shifting patterns of light and shadow that animate the facade. They also help control heat and glare, creating a buffer between the interior and the outdoors. Glass partitions facing landscaped courts ensure that spaces receive abundant daylight and maintain a sense of transparency. Views into the gardens are uninterrupted, connecting daily work life with the surrounding greenery and softening the formality of the institution.
Material choices were guided by the need for simplicity, durability and a strong regional connection. All materials are sourced locally, which reduces transportation energy and ties the building to its context. They are long-lasting and require minimal maintenance, which reinforces the sense of stability and calm that the institution embodies. The landscape, designed to complement and envelop the architecture, introduces a serene counterpoint to the typical image of corporate workplaces. Through shaded pathways, quiet pockets of green and open lawns, the outdoors becomes an active extension of the building itself.
Interactive spaces are placed intentionally across the site. Courtyards serve as informal gathering points that encourage conversation and provide moments of pause. A rooftop amphitheatre offers a venue for talks, internal events and community engagements, reinforcing the culture of collaboration. Water features, expressed through shallow connected pools, add another layer to the spatial experience. These pools frame circulation routes, reflect architectural elements and introduce a gentle sensory quality. As they weave through the site, they strengthen the connection between the built structure and the surrounding landscape and enhance visual comfort.
Material choices were guided by the need for simplicity, durability and a strong regional connection. All materials are sourced locally, which reduces transportation energy and ties the building to its context. They are long-lasting and require minimal maintenance, which reinforces the sense of stability and calm that the institution embodies. The landscape, designed to complement and envelop the architecture, introduces a serene counterpoint to the typical image of corporate workplaces. Through shaded pathways, quiet pockets of green and open lawns, the outdoors becomes an active extension of the building itself.
Interactive spaces are placed intentionally across the site. Courtyards serve as informal gathering points that encourage conversation and provide moments of pause. A rooftop amphitheatre offers a venue for talks, internal events and community engagements, reinforcing the culture of collaboration. Water features, expressed through shallow connected pools, add another layer to the spatial experience. These pools frame circulation routes, reflect architectural elements and introduce a gentle sensory quality. As they weave through the site, they strengthen the connection between the built structure and the surrounding landscape and enhance visual comfort.
Environmental sensitivity is central to the project. Measures for soil erosion control, rainwater management and soil stability are integrated into the design. By placing the basement in the natural low points of the land, excavation was kept to a minimum, which preserves soil quality and reduces construction impact. Energy efficiency is improved using Variable Frequency Drives in air handling units, cooling towers and pumps, which ensure that energy use responds to actual demand. Recycled water is used for cooling towers, flushing and landscape irrigation, reducing pressure on freshwater sources.
The landscape also contributes to sustainability by acting as a natural temperature moderator. The extensive green cover lowers heat absorption and helps reduce the heat island effect, creating a cooler outdoor environment. These efforts together helped the project achieve a LEED Platinum rating, a reflection of its commitment to environmental responsibility. The Lupin Research and Development Center stands today as a model for eco-conscious design. It supports advanced research while remaining deeply respectful of the land, climate and community that surround it.
Through its architectural expression, integrated landscape and strong environmental strategies, Lupin Research Park demonstrates how research facilities can be functional, beautiful and environmentally responsible. It sets a benchmark for future research campuses and institutional developments by showing that innovation and nature can coexist with ease and intention.
The landscape also contributes to sustainability by acting as a natural temperature moderator. The extensive green cover lowers heat absorption and helps reduce the heat island effect, creating a cooler outdoor environment. These efforts together helped the project achieve a LEED Platinum rating, a reflection of its commitment to environmental responsibility. The Lupin Research and Development Center stands today as a model for eco-conscious design. It supports advanced research while remaining deeply respectful of the land, climate and community that surround it.
Through its architectural expression, integrated landscape and strong environmental strategies, Lupin Research Park demonstrates how research facilities can be functional, beautiful and environmentally responsible. It sets a benchmark for future research campuses and institutional developments by showing that innovation and nature can coexist with ease and intention.
