The Shape of Modern Science: A Comparative Analysis of Four Laboratories in Four Cities
Adrian Gainer, Nightingale Associates
The built environment has a significant role to play in the productivity and success of a science research facility. The ability of the academic users to undertake groundbreaking and novel research is dependent on the environment meeting the needs and aspirations of all user groups.
A modern science research facility is also a substantial financial investment. Decisions made in the earliest stages of such projects are key and can have a fundamental effect on what the final design will provide. They can affect the long term usability of the building and how it copes with the changing demands of modern science. In order to make these decisions, the stakeholders need accurate, consistent, and comparative information about this building type at the critical embryonic stage of a project. As part of this information, it is vital to understand how the people that use the building perceive it and in turn how it influences the success of a research facility.
During this presentation, the speaker will discuss the impact of key elements on the perception of those that use the facilities and therefore their productivity. The speaker will draw on data collected as part of the "4 Labs 4 Cities" study being carried out by Nightingale Associates IBI Group to compare four contemporary research laboratory buildings in four cities and across three countries, which include the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United Sates. The sample encompasses different national and cultural approaches to research facility design, as well as ranging from single departmental buildings to multi-disciplinary institutes.
Each building is the subject of a thorough review both in terms of qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data is collected through an extensive questionnaire and interview process driven by perceptions of the user. It investigates aspects such as the impact of new technology and the effect of building design on interaction and collaboration. It also addresses the importance of flexibility and adaptability, as well as the impact of internal environmental conditions such as daylight and view on productivity and well being. This is then analyzed against the quantitative data, which is collated from a series of metric studies.
The initial review of data from the $80 million Multidisciplinary Research Building at Oxford University has resulted in some interesting observations on the use of social space and future proofing concepts. In particular, the current findings indicate a trend toward more desk-based activities with respondents indicating they spend more than 60 percent of their time at the desk. Once concluded, this study will contain a pool of interpreted data and observations that will contribute significantly to the future development and design of research science buildings.
Adrian Gainer is an architect who specializes in the research laboratory field and leads Nightingale Associates in designing for science. Mr. Gainer is particularly interested in designing laboratories that allow flexibility and adaptability of use and that encourage scientific interaction. Mr. Gainer has built up a strong portfolio of laboratory projects in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States, which includes the University of Oxford's prestigious Old Road Campus research building. As an expert in the field of science, Mr. Gainer often addresses audiences on science design trends. He was a panel member and speaker at the AT Osbourne Research Facility Design Conference in Utrecht, Holland, and at Laborrunde at the Max Delbruck Centre for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. Mr. Gainer was also an assessor for the Welcome Trust during the Joint Infrastructure Fund, and often writes technical articles for scientific and architectural press.