A significant laboratory renovation at the University of Waterloo demonstrates how an aging research facility can be transformed into a flexible, energy-efficient environment that supports modern scientific work. The project, designed by mcCallumSather, reimagines the third floor of the Earth Sciences & Chemistry (ESC) Building—originally constructed in the 1960s—using a modular lab design approach and updated mechanical infrastructure. For lab managers, the renovation offers a practical case study on upgrading legacy spaces while meeting safety, sustainability, and operational demands.
Laboratory renovation of legacy research space
The ESC renovation replaces outdated, fragmented layouts with a connected research hub intended to support collaborative workflows. The design team implemented a modular lab design strategy developed through extensive engagement with faculty and graduate researchers. This approach emphasizes adaptable casework layouts, equitable access to resources, and standardized configurations that can evolve with shifting research programs.
“We’ve taken 1960s brutalist labs and made them equitable, modern, and world-class. These are spaces researchers will be proud to work in and share with their peers,” says Liam Brown, principal, architect at mcCallumSather. The shift toward open, flexible environments aligns with broader trends in academic research facilities, where adaptability has become a critical requirement for long-term planning.
Mechanical systems built for efficiency and safety
Because the building incorporated multiple layers of infrastructure dating back several decades, mechanical modernization played a central role in the laboratory renovation. mcCallumSather’s mechanical engineering team introduced a suite of energy-efficient lab systems intended to improve safety, reduce environmental impact, and prepare the building for connection to the university’s low-carbon district energy network.
Key features include:
- Heating and cooling systems that allow each room to operate independently
- Low-temperature heat pumps are designed to reuse and redistribute heat
- Energy-efficient fume hoods equipped with automatic sash controls
- A dedicated outdoor air system to improve ventilation effectiveness
- A high-performance exhaust system to enhance safety and reduce energy waste
- Upgraded environmental controls to maintain stable research conditions
“There’s a lot of exciting technology here. Complex controls, low-temp heat pumps, sash closers. It’s all been introduced to optimize how we run the system from an energy efficiency point of view,” says Mary Georgious, principal, mechanical engineering Lead at mcCallumSather.
These updates reflect an increasing focus on energy-efficient lab systems as institutions work to cut operating costs and improve sustainability performance.
Balancing modernization with active research operations
One of the project’s defining challenges was completing extensive upgrades while the ESC building remained an active research environment. The design and construction teams coordinated carefully to integrate new infrastructure with existing systems, some of which dated back to the building’s original construction. The approach underscores the importance of meticulous planning, phased work sequencing, and clear communication—factors that lab managers routinely navigate during their own renovation projects.
The renovation also emphasizes the growing importance of researcher experience. A former double-loaded corridor has been converted into a glazed, single-loaded passage featuring daylight access, visibility across labs, and a series of arched alcoves designed for informal work and discussion. This human-centered approach signals a shift toward research environments that support both technical and collaborative needs.
Implications for laboratory renovation planning
This laboratory renovation offers actionable guidance for lab leaders planning upgrades to aging facilities. The project highlights the value of modular lab design in reducing future downtime, demonstrates how energy-efficient lab systems can reduce ventilation loads and operating costs, and shows the importance of coordinating construction activities within functioning research buildings. For lab managers evaluating long-term infrastructure investments, the ESC renovation provides a clear example of how legacy spaces can be modernized to support today’s scientific, safety, and sustainability requirements.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
