A Laboratory Design Idea
A Laboratory Design Idea
Introduction
Translational Research Centres at the forefront of lab design There is a great opportunity emerging to design ‘translational’ research facilities that can bridge the gap between basic research science and clinical science. These science facilities integrate clinicians and researchers from many disciplines including biology, engineering, medicine and information technology. Building such centres, where diverse research and clinical teams can collaborate, makes a substantial contribution to shortening the time taken for novel therapies to go from bench to bedside by increasing collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians. These innovative places for collaboration are going up at great speed in the US and are emerging here in the UK. They are going up because of their promise: the promise of new ways to treat human ills and of novel discoveries that will lead to new markets.
Approach to Laboratory Design Interation It is unusual in the fast moving field of research laboratory design that the final use and activity in a lab is unknown at the time of building. It is though possible for a University or Private Institution to progress their building projects before scientific programmes have been established or tenants found by developing a flexible shell and core building that can cater for a variety of research needs. This ‘speculative laboratory’ approach is a strategy we are currently developing for a prestigious Cancer Research Building at the University of Oxford, England. Contained in this document is an overview of this ‘designing from the bench up’ approach to lab design as well as a number of other key concepts that we believe are fundamental to the success of modern research science facilities.
‘What makes for a good lab? Obviously the principle investigator and members of the team are important. So too, of course, are the correct services and environmental conditions. But there is another aspect, less quantifiable but of great importance. It’s the ability of a laboratory to maximise the possibilities for scientific interaction. Having spent many years as an architect designing laboratories, here I give my views on designing successfully for interaction.’ Adrian Gainer, Trends in Genetics, December 2002. Aides to interaction • • • • • • • • • • • •
Relaxing environments alongside the laboratories. Mix of spaces where people need to go to get coffee, mail or go to their locker. Meeting and seating areas with a wide variety of seating types and patterns Central social focus Use natural patterns of circulation to bring people together. Use ghost corridors. Use shared support spaces common to several groups. Good vertical and horizontal circulation paths to give opportunities for crossroads Position doors carefully Reduction of full height walls. Use of open stair cases within the lab Creation of laboratory neighbourhoods to encourage mixing.
Flexibility and adaptability • • • •
Modular lab planning Multi directional modules Mobile furniture Generic space provision
Lab Planning Module
Determination of lab module width Research buildings will typically will have many researchers with different and special laboratory design requirements. To cater for this buildings should be designed on the basis of a regular planning module in order to will allow the numerous Principal Investigators the maximum flexibility in setting up their laboratories to suit the needs of their particular research programme. The laboratory module is the basic conceptual building block and provides regularity and repetitiveness of area and services for the building. Carefully organised and well designed, a lab module will fully coordinate all the architectural and engineering systems. We have extensively researched and bench marked the design of our planning module. The basic laboratory module proposed, has a width of 3.3m which is based on two rows of furniture and equipment (each row 750mm deep) on each wall, a 1750mm aisle, and 100mm for the wall thickness that separates one lab from another. The 1750mm aisle width can be reduced in line with BS EN 14056:2003 to 1450mm which must be considered the minimum width This can allow individual bench depths to increase to 900mm for a wall bench and 1800mm for an island or peninsula bench if necessary to accommodate large bench top equipment.
Illustration of module width development
Two directional lab module. For added flexibility of the facility the lab module can be used in two directions. This allows the furniture to be organized in either direction. This concept is more flexible than the basic single directional lab module concept.
Illustration of two directional module
Key Lab Planning Concepts There are a number of key laboratory planning concepts to incorporate.
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Open plan generic laboratories
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Ghost Corridors
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Lab central support core
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Mobile furniture
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Flexible partitions
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Overhead service carriers
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Daylight/Transparency
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Comfort
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Quality Finishes
Internal ghost corridor
Empty shell
Three bay module In our lab analysis and bench marking work we have undertaken to date we believe that the most efficient and flexible laboratory layout can be achieved by creating a three bay double aspect laboratory module. We have carefully reviewed the flexibility of this proposal by testing the module against a number of different internal arrangements. These are illustrated here.
Perimeter ghost corridor
Internal ghost corridor with crossover
Flexible module • • • •
2d module Zonal planning Layout variety Ghost corridors
Central primary with perimeter office zone
Perimeter primary and perimeter office
Three Dimensional Lab Module To further enhance the flexibility of the building we have explored the use of a three-dimensional lab module planning concept which uses the two-directional lab module in three bays over three or four floors. •
This means that the building can offer a single-corridor arrangement on one floor, a two-corridor layout on another, and so on. In order to create a three-dimensional lab module we have defined a two-directional lab module with fully coordinated vertical risers and will need to work with our M&E colleagues to ensure that all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are coordinated in the ceiling to work with the multiple corridor arrangements. Adjacencies with corridors can be organized with a single, two corridor (racetrack), or a three corridor scheme. There are number of variations to organize each type.
3d visualisation of a potential laboratory module. During the laboratory module development with the user groups we would make use of 3d visualisation techniques to illustrate our proposals. In our development work to date on the lab module we have been in discussion with a leading laboratory furniture manufacturer. Many possibilities exist to provide semi permanent furniture where parts of island benches can be removed and the space used for freestanding equipment if necessary. This allows individual groups the opportunity to adapt the space if necessary.
On this page we have illustrated four different potential configurations of this facility.
An Approach to Lab Design Sustainability
Maximise area
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Concise HVAC distribution helped by a rational lab planning module. Flexible architectural design through modular laboratory planning. Large open plan labs to enhance flexibility and sustainability. Isolation of support spaces like offices to allow natural ventilation. Use of daylight capture and enhanced lighting controls. Use of materials, their recycled content as well as construction waste recycling. Measures that reduce the heating and cooling requirements offer the best opportunity for energy savings.
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Design to the full limits of the site without compromising quality of the available space Design that allows various permutations of lab and office layout.
Economical • • • •
Mock ups and prototypes with supply chain. Simplicity of detail. Standardised and modular approach to construction. Design team experience in building type, construction methods and procurement
Well designed • • • • •
Care and attention to user and University aspirations and needs Experience To attract research and promote good science Collaborative working Communication