Avia Labs, a new 6-story life sciences building developed by Longfellow Real Estate Partners and designed by Flad Architects, will yield 263,000 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space and 164,000 sq. ft. for a below-grade garage. The project will include a cafe and an amenity room on the ground level, as well as a pedestrian plaza. Avia Labs is uniquely situated adjacent to the intermodal transit station, serving both Caltrain and BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), and the commute is less than 10 minutes from San Francisco International Airport.

In addition to the flush glazed, multi-story lobby glazing, the building enclosure comprises two main facade types. The first is a GFRC and high-performance glass, large format panel system incorporating a sculpted GFRC panel and a glass corner at each bay, in conjunction designed to 

capture daylight and views and provide shading.  Each floor has staggered vertical panel joints relative to the adjacent floors and a horizontal gradation of window widths. The second main facade type is a sheer curtain wall, all-glass in some areas and with wider IGU's separated by "C" shaped painted aluminum reveals at other elevations. The rhythm of the vitrine apertures, reflection of light on the different materials, and the subtly curved geometry of the GFRC recesses create a different visual 

effect when viewed from each direction and at different speeds, walking, driving, or riding the train.

Heintges provided building envelope consulting services during all phases of design and construction.