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Introduction
As
the title suggests this book will guide clients, laboratory
staff, architects, engineering consultants and project construction
managers through the design process for a laboratory project.
The
following represents an approach to the design of laboratory
buildings, particularly the interior layout and furniture,
which I have developed as a specialist laboratory design consultant.
As
I believe that safety in laboratories is one of the most important
design criteria, I became involved in the Australian Standard
AS 2982 ‘Laboratory Design and Construction’ as
a committee member representing the Australian Institute of
Architects.
I
also lecture on this subject and always stress the importance
of the safety aspects in laboratory design.
Another
important design criterion is the ergonomics of the workplace
to provide the best possible working environment for the laboratory
staff. In the past scientists have been frustrated by their
old facilities.Their efficiency is impaired and their fixed
benches are like a straitjacket! So laboratory facilities
should be designed for maximum flexibility in arranging the
equipment and movable workbenches. With the assistance of
a specialist joinery company, KPD Pty Limited, I have designed
a laboratory furniture product, Space Lab, now manufactured
in Australia and Europe. Feedback from completed installations
over the past ten years has provided invaluable user advice
for improving the furniture product.
Equipment
and instrumentation manufacturers try to keep up with changes
in laboratory practice. As facility designers we also have
to respond to the new requirements.
I
have used some of my commissions to illustrate my design philosophy
and methodology. The examples selected are designs which were
not compromised by site, building or other constraints.
I
have also included a number of case studies to illustrate
the designs by other architects who have described their design
solutions to a variety of briefs and contributed their drawings
and photographs.
Regulations
and standards are being revised continually. You must obtain
the current editions. Likewise laboratory equipment, water
and gas fittings are continually being improved by their manufacturers,
so I have not included any technical data. Manufacturers are
very willing to supply their current trade literature.
While
laboratory regulations/standards and laboratory products/equipment
are changing and vary from country to country, good design
principles are universal and are the subject of this book.
Since
the research into laboratory facilities by the Nuffield Foundation
for Architectural Studies (1961) titled ‘The Design of
Research Laboratories’ published by Oxford University
Press and later the more significant research work by the
Laboratories Investigations Unit (LIU) published in 13 Papers
from 1969 to 1981 by the UK Government Department, I have
undertaken my own research into user requirements and describe
my design solutions and recommendations in the first eight
chapters.
I
have not included special-purpose laboratories as the client
will be a specialist, will be fully informed on the requirements,
and the brief will be more prescriptive than for the general
laboratories.
While
Chapter 1 is principally directed to the Laboratory Client
and Chapters 2—15 are directed to the Design and Construction
Team, everybody should benefit by reading all the parts.
Since
the first and second editions were written there have been
several significant developments in laboratory design. Some
of these were mentioned as trends and prophesies.
Most
have now materialised, and we have addressed these issues
in this third edition.
While
the first edition was primarily written from an architect/laboratory
design consultant’s viewpoint based on 15 years of design
consultancy in the industry, I have realised the need for
other members of the laboratory design team to be represented.The
members I have selected to contribute the new chapters are
those who can have a significant effect on the building design.
Other members of the design team are also essential, and I
believe the trend of engaging more specialist consultants,
such as IT consultants, can only improve the development of
best practice in laboratory design.
We
now have 43 case studies from around the world; some completed,
some under construction, some at design stage, and even two
competition entries that were not selected. All the case studies
are significant and contribute in one way or another to the
advancement of laboratory design.
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