The BIAN architectural studio has created a new, unified identity for the company using new envelopes that act as visual connectors between the different buildings. The new façades create a visual interplay of transparencies that allows the original pre-existing building behind the intervention to be distinguished.
The new envelope consists of an industrialized metal structure of prefabricated modules, assembled on the existing façades. This modular system is equipped with photovoltaic panels that tilt to maximize solar gain. The new perforated sheet metal skin uses the company's symbolic color, aesthetically unifying the different buildings.
MSD solar facades by BIAN. Photograph by Alberto Amores.
Project description by BIAN
Since 2021, the pharmaceutical company MSD Animal Health has embarked on a decarbonization plan to transform its facilities in Salamanca through the use of renewable energies. In this context, the architectural firm BIAN and the construction company MMSL have led the strategy and design of a modular, industrialized system that turns the facades of three buildings into solar energy production devices.
This new approach reimagines traditionally underutilized spaces, such as industrial areas and factories, by proposing a novel, industrialized system that generates sustainable energy. The project consists of a new envelope equipped with photovoltaic panels, angled to optimize solar capture. These panels not only generate clean energy but also act as visual connectors between the different buildings. Additionally, a new perforated metal skin in the company's characteristic color has been integrated, which not only unifies the aesthetic of the campus buildings but also creates a visual interplay of transparency, allowing glimpses of the original building behind it. This design achieves a harmonious relationship between the existing architecture and the new envelope, renewing the complex’s overall image and identity.
The system is based on a standardized module that, through small adjustments, adapts to the specific conditions of each building. An industrially manufactured metal structure is transported in prefabricated modules that, within minutes, are installed and assembled onto the existing facades. This construction system allowed the pharmaceutical company’s daily operations to continue uninterrupted throughout the renovation.
This project rethinks the traditional role of facades, transforming them into dynamic, productive surfaces. It is an invitation to appreciate architecture in these often-undervalued industrial settings, demonstrating that it is possible to integrate productive systems that create a sophisticated and technological new image for these environments.
