Specialty Research Roundtable: Creative Yet Repeatable Solutions for Small-Scale and Unique Projects

Robert Skolozdra, AIA, LEED AP, Svigals + Partners

This informal roundtable forum features architect Bob Skolozdra, AIA, LEED AP, an expert in high-performance laboratory planning and design, who will lead a discussion on new trends, issues and emerging solutions for small-scale lab retrofit projects, particularly for specialty research applications, which present a number of universal challenges.

The roundtable will engender discussion among professionals who are involved in small, unique projects for specialty research, fledgling institutes, and other relatively isolated research groups. As with any projects, these small, unique laboratory projects require cost-effective, rigorous solutions. Integrating solutions for sustainability at various scales is another important topic that will be discussed. As leader, Skolozdra will describe some of the opportunities and challenges associated with a low-cost, efficient renovation of Yale University's West Campus Laboratory, a former Bayer Pharmaceutical building, for a group of startup biotechnology institutes.

The group discussion will touch on creative solutions to lab/office renovations with tight budgets, key metrics for research modules, reuse of existing casework and materials, and considerations for MEP retrofits. In addition, the need to create a 'home for research' will be considered, which involves elements for comfort, collaboration and convenience. Examples include introducing more daylight and planning for interaction spaces in the laboratory layouts, as was developed for the Yale institutes.

Skolozdra will also share custom yet repeatable solutions for specific specialty research needs, ranging from laser labs and zebra fish research facilities to a butterfly breeding laboratory. In addition to sharing examples, the leader will facilitate an open discussion with audience and recommend topics for continued attention after the conference session. Skolozdra will focus on eliciting discussion from attendees on unique lab renovation experiences with shared challenges.

Biography:

Bob is an expert in sustainable laboratory design and construction having completed more than 200 projects for Yale University as well as innovative labs and science parks for the private sector. Directly responsible for laboratory planning/design, environmental engineering coordination and quality control, Bob is expert at creating lab environments that are responsive to present needs and capable of accommodating future demands. He directs the LEED/sustainability initiatives with engineers, consultants and the firm's design team. Bob believes that science functions best when it is supported by architecture that facilitates both structured and informal interaction, flexible use of space, and sharing of resources. As a result of his expertise, Bob was invited to become a Grant Peer Reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and now regularly participates in the grant application review process.

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