Bühler Leybold Optics Application Center

Location

Cary, NC

Market Sectors

  • Corporate Interiors
  • Industrial
  • Life Sciences

Sub Sectors

  • Flex-Use
  • Laboratory-Technology
  • Laboratory - Bio/Pharma
  • Manufacturing
  • Research & Development
  • Workplace/Office

Client

Bühler, Inc.

Partners

  • Gensler

Centralizing two business entities into a unique playground for customers in the semiconductor and optics industries to test and develop state-of-the-art coatings for their consumers

Bühler Leybold Optics, a market leader in thin film coatings offering the semiconductor and optics industries a development and testing experience unique to North America, gained a competitive edge in Cary, North Carlina by bringing two business entities under one roof. The goal: further align with new energetic branding standards and drive collaboration between their research and development and sales groups. At the center of their vision was the construction of a new 7,600 square foot lab space within the existing high-bay manufacturing facility that would serve the company’s optics research and development efforts.

7,600
Square Feet
Innovative
Workplace
Complex
Structural Requirements
ISO 10,000
Cleanroom
Disruption
Mitigation Efforts
Bühler’s state-of-the-art facility supports over 200 employees and includes engineering, manufacturing, testing labs, sales, service, and training.
The structural requirements were complex, requiring new foundations, structural steel, concrete, and structural stud partitions to be installed directly adjacent to the existing office and manufacturing space.
Bühler’s ISO-certified cleanroom houses a sputter batch coater capable of achieving state-of-the-art coatings on wafers up to 12 inches used for Photonics, consumer electronics, semiconductors, and biomedical applications.
Thoughtful scheduling and logistics planning ensured construction was completed without interruption to the adjacent spaces. The team’s tight coordination of the move also limited the downtime of R&D equipment.

Creating a fully equipped space where innovation can thrive

The new lab space provides cutting-edge technology to support Bühler’s optics research and development initiatives and includes an ISO 10,000 cleanroom, digital optics surfacing lab, and a gray room supporting equipment in the application lab. Complex MEP infrastructure requirements required close coordination for the migration of the existing specialty equipment.

Managing complex structural requirements

Structural requirements on this project were complex, requiring new foundations, structural steel, concrete, and structural stud partitions to be installed directly adjacent to the existing office and manufacturing space. Code compliance and energy code requirements required the installation of a new HVAC system, electrical system replacements, and the creation of a thermal envelope for the new space, as the existing manufacturing space was non-conditioned.