The Francis Crick Institute will be housed in a striking new building designed by architects HOK with PLP Architecture.

Developed with input from scientists, local residents and community groups, the building supports the goals of the Institute and promotes public engagement.

Find out how the building developed as a result of local consultation.

Architecturally, there are strong links between the new Institute and the historic buildings in the local area. Both the masonry and the distinctive vaulted roof recall features of the adjacent St Pancras International station.

The vaulted roof is arranged into two shells. This feature is not simply decorative; it conceals the heating and cooling units and incorporates solar panels.

Large cantilevered bay windows along with tall glass atria reduce the impact of the building at street level and maintain natural light in both work and public areas. A third of the building will be below ground to reduce its visible mass.

The main eastern entrance, opposite St Pancras International, faces a new public square on Midland Road. At the western side of the building, a garden framed by trees and benches will be created.

Within the building, the laboratories will be arranged over four floors. A typical floor will consist of four interconnected blocks which will bring together staff working in different fields. The laboratories are designed to be adaptable to change as new scientific opportunities emerge in the future.

The Institute is scheduled to open in 2015. When it is fully operational it will house some 1500 staff, making it one of Europe's largest centres of biomedical research.

Watch a computer generated fly-through video of the design for The Francis Crick Institute.