Researchers are living, breathing organisms, and their ecosystem is the lab. As designers, we will never directly cure diseases, but we can ask ourselves, “How will we maximize the embedded potential of research through design?” Our contribution and role in science is to help principal investigators solve international challenges through thoughtful design. This can be achieved with respect to cost and time, as there is a scientific side to creating innovative lab spaces. This session will introduce the evolution of laboratory design: where it has been, where it is now, and what direction it is heading in the future. The supporting data presented was collected from local industry lab users from the institutional and private sector.
Ten years ago, maximizing flexibility and adding transparency was the major shift to traditional lab design. Today, our labs not only need to be flexible but aspire to attract and retain top talent. This discussion will review case studies and data that support a new shift in laboratory space utilization—one that balances the human component and functionality of protecting the process and material.
Key takeaways:
- How decades of workplace research are successfully being applied to laboratories
- Next generation drivers—what the future workforce is telling us
- Keys to maximizing square footage in costly labs, while providing character and space for collaboration
- Location, location, location—characteristics of a prime location for future urban-spec laboratories
