Northwestern University celebrated the opening of its 12-story Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center.

Designed by Perkins+Will, the 627,000-square-foot facility on the university’s downtown campus features laboratories built around research neighborhoods and supports the delivery of research in cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Key design features of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center include 23 labs on each floor, two-story collaboration spaces connecting groupings of lab levels by a cantilevered balcony and staircase, and a multistory atrium lobby that can be used for events for up to 300 people.