The Latin word ‘Radix’ represents the root of a plant in the botanical sciences. Radix is the root and home base of the Plant Sciences Group (PSG). In 2009 PSG moved to Radix, which is located close to Forum and Atlas at Wageningen Campus. The building is four stories tall and located at the site of the former west wing of Plant Research International (PRI).
Design and architecture
Radix was designed by the Delft architectural firm DP6. The building houses the PRI business units, the chair groups of Plant Sciences and two business units from Applied Plant Research (PPO), according to their areas of expertise. Radix combines education and research in one building. On every floor, laboratories and their annexes are arranged to optimize cooperation between chair groups and business units through the use of common equipment. The more office-oriented workstations are housed in open office zones. This way, PSG uses the buildings 12,000 m2 very efficiently.
Radix’ interior has been executed in greens and earth tones, with a hint of botanically inspired pink and purple. The building and its courtyards are very light and airy. People working in Radix can use several sitting areas with stunning views across Wageningen campus and comfortable sofas for consultations or a cup of coffee. Workstations are separated with screens made of reeds. The conference rooms are equipped with all the necessary audio-visual equipment.
Applied research and greenhouses
Unifarm, located behind Radix, was also expanded to allow the Plant Sciences Group to conduct integrated research under one roof. Since late 2008 the pilot sites are centralized here in three buildings:
- Radix Serre: greenhouses and staff building;
- Radix Klima: insect greenhouse and climate rooms;
- Radix Agros: field vegetable production / mushroom cultivation facilities.
Unifarm provides a unique array of facilities and all sorts of support for experiments. There are well-equipped conventional greenhouses, but also climatized greenhouses and greenhouses for experiments with special plant material such as quarantine organisms and plant pathogens (viruses, fungi, nematodes and insects).
Residents and Users
The Plant Sciences Group (PSG) is a collaboration between the Wageningen University Department of Plant Sciences and the research institutes Plant Research International (PRI) and Applied Plant Research (PPO). PSG provides expertise and products in the fields of healthy food, sustainable green production chains, biodiversity and plant & environment to students, government institutions and the industry. PSG focuses on transition and innovation by developing, applying and transferring expertise.
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