Designing Tomorrow's Science: The Modern Undergraduate Laboratory Building
Undergraduate science laboratory buildings are evolving to meet the demands of modern science education and research. These facilities are no longer just spaces for conducting experiments; they are becoming dynamic environments that foster collaboration, innovation, and interdisciplinary learning. This article explores the key considerations in designing undergraduate science laboratory buildings, showcasing examples of innovative designs and features that enhance the educational experience for students and faculty.
The Imperative for Modernization
Traditional undergraduate science labs often fell short in providing the flexible, collaborative, and technologically advanced spaces needed for contemporary scientific endeavors. Many existing facilities suffer from outdated infrastructure, inadequate space, and a lack of adaptability. Recognizing these limitations, universities are investing in the renovation and construction of new undergraduate science laboratory buildings to address the mounting demand for STEM-H degrees and enhance the educational experience.
Key Design Principles
Several key principles guide the design of modern undergraduate science laboratory buildings:
Flexibility and Adaptability: Laboratories should be designed to accommodate a variety of teaching methods and learning styles. Flexible modular layouts allow for easy reconfiguration of the space to meet evolving scientific fields and pedagogical approaches. The Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building at Virginia Tech features 26 flexible and adaptable laboratories, including wet, dry, and specialty labs.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Modern science is increasingly interdisciplinary, requiring collaboration between researchers from different fields. Laboratory buildings should be designed to promote interaction and knowledge sharing. Open floor plans, collaboration spaces, and informal study areas encourage students and faculty to connect and exchange ideas. The Undergraduate Teaching Labs at Johns Hopkins University, with its sweeping windows and open floor plans, invites collaboration, innovation, and invention.
Read also: Tomorrow's Science Hubs
Technology Integration: Advanced technology is essential for modern scientific research and education. Laboratory buildings should be equipped with the latest lab technology, including advanced instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and computational resources. The Innovation Studio at Drexel University includes a machine shop, freshman laboratories, and a multi-disciplinary maker space. The instrumentation bench utilizes the use of probe technology for material and compound characterization, while the wet bench is used for various teaching procedures and experiments.
Safety: Safety is paramount in laboratory design. Chemical fume hoods, proper ventilation systems, and designated chemical storage areas are crucial for protecting students and faculty from hazardous materials. The renovation of an existing lab at Drexel University included the addition of additional chemical fume hoods to increase usability for chemically intensive work. Both centralized and dedicated floor-level specialty chemical stock and waste holding rooms were provided, creating a repository for the aggregation and temporary storage of liquid and solid chemical waste awaiting disposal.
Sustainability: Sustainable design practices can reduce the environmental impact of laboratory buildings and create a healthier environment for occupants. Energy-efficient lighting, water conservation measures, and the use of sustainable materials are all important considerations. The Undergraduate Teaching Labs at Johns Hopkins University achieved LEED Platinum certification through an emphasis on energy efficiency, sustainable site development, and interior environmental quality, using 50% less energy than similar lab buildings.
Case Studies in Innovation
Several universities have recently completed or are in the process of constructing innovative undergraduate science laboratory buildings that exemplify these design principles.
Drexel University: A Multi-Phased Renovation
Drexel University initiated a plan to renovate its core research facilities in three buildings: 3101 Market Street, Bossone Research Enterprise Center, and the Center for Automation Technology (CAT)/LeBow Engineering Center. The completed and planned renovations provide much needed upgrades to research space for the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, greatly expanding Drexel’s research capacity in core areas such as environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science and engineering, and chemistry. Many of these facilities are also designed to be flexible in support of interdisciplinary research.
Read also: Undergraduate Programs at UNC
Key Features:
- Innovation Studio: Composed of a machine shop, freshman laboratories, and multi-disciplinary maker space.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Replacement of existing infrastructure with new chillers, pumps, water heaters, and a building automation system, allowing year-round cooling.
- Wet Labs: New wet research laboratories built for the Department of Chemistry in the basement, including three research laboratories and adjacent shared open office space.
- Environmental Engineering Labs: Labs broken up into three use zones: wet benches, instrumentation benches, and a contained recitation write-up area separated by a glass partition. The glass partition allows visual access between the recitation and bench areas while promoting increased safety in the lab environment. The design team incorporated flexible future growth options into the labs to expand and change as new teaching strategies develop.
Virginia Tech: The Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building
Virginia Tech's new Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building on the Blacksburg campus features 26 flexible and adaptable laboratories, including wet, dry, and specialty labs. These modern spaces are equipped to meet the evolving instructional needs of the College of Science, the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Resources and Environment, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In addition to advanced laboratories, the facility also includes general-use classrooms, collaboration spaces, offices, informal study areas, and workspaces for graduate teaching assistants.
Key Features:
- Flexible Laboratories: Designed to accommodate a variety of teaching methods and learning styles.
- Collaboration Spaces: Encourage interaction and knowledge sharing among students and faculty.
- Sustainability: A cornerstone of the building's design.
Johns Hopkins University: The Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories
The Undergraduate Teaching Labs at Johns Hopkins University is an addition to the existing Mudd Levi Biology complex that engages an adjacent lushly-landscaped garden. An expansive glass facade provides visual access to the garden from the classroom and lab spaces within, putting discovery on display to the adjacent pedestrian pathway. The project achieved LEED Platinum certification through an emphasis on energy efficiency, sustainable site development, and interior environmental quality, using 50% less energy than similar lab buildings. The innovative and award-winning systems deliver fume hood intensive laboratories without requiring reheat energy.
Key Features:
- Interdisciplinary Learning: Promotes first-rate interdisciplinary science education and provides opportunities for research in biology, neuroscience, chemistry, and biophysics.
- Energy Efficiency: Achieved LEED Platinum certification by using 50% less energy than similar lab buildings.
- Open Design: Sweeping windows and open floor plans invite collaboration, innovation, and invention.
University of Pittsburgh: Chevron Science Center Renovations
Between 2008 and 2018, R3A designed renovations for 85% of the research and instructional laboratory facilities in the Chevron Science Center. As part of this effort, they worked with the university to add chemical stock rooms and chemical waste repository rooms to support the generation of chemical and radioisotope waste resulting from the increased laboratory program area of the building redesign. Both centralized and dedicated floor-level specialty chemical stock and waste holding rooms were provided, creating a repository for the aggregation and temporary storage of liquid and solid chemical waste awaiting disposal. They also worked with the researchers on each floor to provide adequate chemical storage solutions for both the research and instructional entities that are in the building.
Key Features:
- Chemical Stock and Waste Management: Addition of chemical stock rooms and chemical waste repository rooms to support the generation of chemical and radioisotope waste.
- Adequate Chemical Storage: Provision of adequate chemical storage solutions for both research and instructional entities.
The Future of Undergraduate Science Lab Design
The design of undergraduate science laboratory buildings is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of science education and research. Future trends in laboratory design include:
- Increased emphasis on sustainability: Laboratories are becoming increasingly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
- Greater integration of technology: Advanced technologies are being incorporated into laboratory design to enhance research and education.
- More flexible and adaptable spaces: Laboratories are being designed to be easily reconfigured to meet changing needs.
- Enhanced collaboration spaces: Laboratories are incorporating more spaces for students and faculty to collaborate and interact.
- Focus on student well-being: Laboratories are being designed to promote student well-being by providing comfortable and stimulating learning environments.
Read also: Drexel University Student Statistics
tags: #undergraduate #science #lab #building #design
