The laboratory is much more than a building filled with scientific instruments; it is a place where minds come together to innovate, discover and come up with solutions to pressing issues, as demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, designing a lab as a holistic workplace that supports the day-to-day needs of scientists is just as important as designing a lab with the infrastructure to support advanced technology. Marilee Lloyd, senior laboratory architect at HED, recently sat down for an interview with Labcompare to discuss what she calls the new Scientific Workplace, a lab design framework that focuses on fostering collaboration and creating a space where scientists love to work.
The Scientific Workplace Is Collaborative
Great scientific innovation would be near-impossible without many individuals and groups working together toward a common goal, each bringing their own ideas, expertise and resources to the table. Still, dedicated lab spaces are often thought of as isolated and set apart from the rest of a facility, partly due to the necessity of containing highly sensitive experiments. While areas of a lab may be closed off in a physical sense, that does not mean they need to be closed off from collaboration, and thinking of labs, offices and other collaboration spaces as integrated parts of the same whole can go a long way toward opening up communication and idea sharing. One simple example of how this concept can be implemented in lab design is the incorporation of glass connections between lab and workspaces, which brings greater visibility and correspondence between the two areas.
“We think about things like allowing space for collaboration, even if it’s within the lab space, providing a small space that allows for some whiteboard or a piece of glass between workspace and lab space to be writable and allow for that ability to coordinate and communicate,” said Lloyd.
In addition to bringing collaborative elements into and between the lab space, fostering team coordination also relies on positioning collaboration spaces centrally where they are easily accessible to everyone, and grouping workspaces in a way that provides ample opportunities for colleagues to interact. Part of this includes analyzing data about staff connections within the organization.
“[It’s] knowing who in research departments should be next to each other, so that information and workflows are optimized,” explained Lloyd. “There was a great thrust several years ago for social network mapping, and that is understanding who is connected to and needs information from whom in a particular company. And so you start to make connections between how these people interact, how many interactions per week, per month, per year they have. You get an idea of what department or research group should be next to whom to maximize the efficiency.”
One example of how this framework has been implemented by HED is in the Integrative Bioscience Center at Wayne State University, where about 20% of the center’s net area comprises collaboration, conference and lounge spaces.1 The project emphasized interdisciplinary engagement with a centralized communication space, works spaces grouped by “theme” and use of glass walls to increase visual connections between departments.2 Another example is the Wacker Chemical Innovation Center & Regional HQ, where use of transparent glass and large contiguous floor plates for both open office and lab space promote an “extroverted design” offering flexibility and opportunity to collaborate.3
The Scientific Workplace Is Flexible
Science is dynamic, and the needs of laboratories are ever-evolving with improved methods, new technologies and growth within organizations. The flexibility to integrate changes both long-term and from day-to-day is an important quality in lab design and a key component of the modern Scientific Workplace.
When planning for growth, labs should not only consider the square footage required to add new pieces of equipment, but also whether workflows and paths are optimized so that new installations don’t cause disruption. The inclusion of more movable, adjustable and modular parts also adds a measure of convenience, and allows new projects and elements to be incorporated more smoothly.
“Flexible and adaptable systems are used so that they can, to an extent, modify their environment to suit their needs,” said Lloyd. “They can change the height of the workbench. We use mobile cabinets frequently, so they can move the cabinet around to be what they want. They can adjust the height of shelves to accommodate a new piece of equipment.”
The Scientific Workplace Is An Enjoyable Place to Work
The human element of laboratory design is not to be overlooked, and the Scientific Workplace can be thought of as an experience rather than a location or building. The environment scientists are working in for hours at a time can have a great influence on their well-being and productivity. Where possible, elements like daylight and views can promote a healthier and more pleasant work environment.
“We’re very mindful of things like biophilic elements to make sure that there’s a connection, if we can at all manage it, to the outdoors, so someone can see, even if they’re in the lab, see trees, see the sky,” said Lloyd. “That’s one of those very important things that oftentimes, in scientific environments, you don’t necessarily think of.”
Another consideration is amenities, such as areas to eat, work out and shower during breaks. Improving the quality of the workplace experience is not only limited to comfort and downtime – aspects that help staff do their work better can also be considered in lab design. In addition to collaboration and flexibility, digital connectivity and remote access capabilities can support activities ranging from data analysis, to animal monitoring to communications with team members. Having a conversation with staff members about what they need to improve their day-to-day experience can help to create a holistic workplace that truly supports its workers.
“It’s a conversation about what is critical to them. What is their critical path? What do they spend the most time doing? What are those things that frustrate them?” said Lloyd.
References
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https://www.mtu.edu/h-stem/proposals/hed/
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https://www.hed.design/stories/ibio
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https://www.hed.design/stories/wacker-chemical-innovation-center-regional-hq
About the Expert: With more than 35 years of experience in Architecture, Construction, Design and Planning, Marilee Lloyd, Senior Laboratory Architect, HED, is extremely well-versed in all aspects of laboratory planning and design. She has a broad spectrum of understanding for these types of projects — from the high-level, strategic goals down to finer details of equipment placement, and is well respected for her passion and strategic design skills. Her approach is collaborative; working seamlessly with clients, stakeholders, technical and leadership staff in finding the best solutions to service each individual project.