Design of Laboratories Abroad - ACS Publications

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RERORT FOR ANALYTICAL

CHEMISTS

D e s i g n of Laboratories Abroad This report is the third devoted to the design and construction of laboratory buildings. The first two parts appeared in September and October and dealt with general considerations in laboratory design and special requirements of academic institutions. These articles were based on a book, "Laboratory Planning for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering." This book summarizes the experiences of many experts in all phases of design and construction. The present report has been written by a practicing English architect and reflects his professional experiences in laboratory design abroad and gives one individual's view of the factors to be considered T ^ h e problem of who makes t h e -*• critical decisions in t h e design of a laboratory is an i m p o r t a n t one. Sound answers to the problems posed will greatly extend the usefulness and effective life of a substantial investment. A new building is often t h e most valuable piece of a p p a r a t u s t h a t a scientific d e p a r t ment acquires in a generation. T h e question asked is whether the architect, management, or the scientists who will work in the new building should really decide w h a t it will be like. T h e answer is t h a t all of t h e m are i m p o r t a n t and t h a t a successful laboratory design is a complete a m a l g a m of t h e ideas of each. These should all have been constructively criticised by t h e others in the light of their experiences in other cases and study of the ways in which similar problems have been tackled elsewhere. Our direct experience is localised and I hope I shall be forgiven for possibly a parochial viewpoint. I believe however, t h a t the fundamentals of the process are similar on both sides of the Atlantic and the differences are those of emphasis, scale, and technique. T h e best practise in a n y case t a k e s account of w h a t has been done elsewhere for a comparable purpose when this is known. Publications from different coun-

tries, and discussions with those who practice in t h e m reveal m a n y similar problems and often evoke reciprocal sympathies. Some of t h e factors I shall mention will be familiar to readers, b u t this is inevitable in a general survey. Need f o r Flexibility

One of the most i m p o r t a n t features of a laboratory is flexibility. Science does not stand still and neither do scientists. I n a n y research establishment, whether academic or industrial, t h e work m u s t change if it is successful and will be closed down in time if it is not. Because of this, and also because of t h e rapid expansion t h a t is t a k i n g place in m a n y fields, t h e people engaged in research are moving from one laboratory to another. We have just finished one large laborat o r y for a university and before it was in use, each professorial chair was occupied by a different m a n from t h e one who specified the dep a r t m e n t s ' requirements and a p proved the plans before building commenced. During the design and construction of a similar industrial laboratory, the head of the department changed three times between the inception of the design and occupation. These are n o t cases of inefficient organisations b u t of such

H. M. Fairhurst, M.A., F.R.I.B.A., was educated at Clifton College and then went to the Cambridge University School of Architecture. After a period in a London office and the Northern Polytechnic in London, he took his finals degree with a thesis which happened to be on the design of a Research Institute. Since then he has been in practice with the old established family firm of architects in Manchester, and has been interested in laboratories throughout this time. Mr. Fairhurst has travelled widely in Western Europe and in the United States to study them. Major laboratory projects for Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Fibre Technology, Physics, Biological, Pharmaceutical, Dyestuffs, Nuclear and Engineering Research are included in their work in recent years

VOL. 34, NO. 13, DECEMBER 1962

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REPORT FOR A N A L Y T I C A L CHEMISTS

Comtemporary picture of Rutherford and Geiger in basement of Physics Department, Manchester University, 1 9 1 1 . Total cost of equipment used is said to be 5 pounds

Present day photograph of laboratory in which Rutherford first split the atom in basement of Physics Department, Manchester University

Plan of a hospital service laboratory converted from a typical Florence Nightingale ward block

successful ones t h a t these men are constantly in demand for more responsible posts. An i m p o r t a n t result of this condition is t h a t no body can afford, without very careful consideration, to provide for a particular worker buildings t h a t have a unique function. T h e facilities a n d equipment m a y well be unique b u t their usefulness m a y pass and it will be helpful if this cannot be said too soon of the building. T o t a k e an example from medical science; who in 1930 when radium needles were first being used to t r e a t cancer could have envisaged the massive generators and powerful sources t h a t are now considered essential? And who knows if developments in the biological sciences m a y not m a k e all this equipment unnecessary? T h e hospitals, however, to 24 A

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which they are attached continue to fulfill m a n y of the same functions unchanged, and it is unfortunate if t h e y have to be disrupted every time there is a development in the specialist field. Responsibilities of M a n a g e m e n t , Scientists, a n d A r c h i t e c t

M a n a g e m e n t has to m a k e sure t h a t no scientist is allowed to ride his own hobby horse to such a degree t h a t his buildings would be useless if he moved elsewhere. E u rope has laboratories where a great m a n at the height of his career has been able to a t t r a c t massive resources and has sometimes achieved the "biggest aspidistra in the world". One can go into these laboratories and find t h a t this m a n has retired, or died, and perhaps t h a t his work has stimulated parallel

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Photograph, taken recently, of the Main Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Manchester University, built in 1909

Plan of one of the typical teaching laboratories-New Chemistry Building, under construction at the University of Manchester. Note the demonstrat­ ing positions and benches in car­ rels; dispersed fume cupboards and central stores and balance room A Β C

work in m a n y other places and t h a t beautiful buildings are not usefully employed. One can see laborator­ ies built for large pieces of equip­ ment t h a t are virtually indestructi­ ble so t h a t when their purpose has been served, subsequent generations have to do the best they can in w h a t remains of t h e space left in this stable for a white elephant. I t is of course, impossible to gen­ eralise with accuracy, b u t I t h i n k one can comment on t h e desirable conditions for the three parties to designing a building—the adminis­ tration, the scientific staff, and t h e architect. The administration should keep, if possible, continuous experience in the commissioning of buildings. This has m a n y advantages such as knowing t h e questions to be asked of scientists, knowing how an archi­

Balance Room Stores Demonstration's Desk

tect works and a t w h a t periods time spent on thorough study will be worth while. Also, however—and very important—there can be a steady policy for the physical de­ velopment of the organisation so t h a t room is left for expansion in likely directions. Services such as boiler houses can be disposed with an eye to long t e r m convenience and efficiency. Reorganisation of the buildings can be facilitated b y keeping certain s t a n d a r d s of flexi­ bility and interchangeability. An enlightened engineer is possibly the most effective instrument for m a n ­ agement's supervision. I t is advis­ able t h a t for the period of design and construction the project should be his p r i m a r y d u t y and his other work adjusted to allow for this. This is subject to two points how­ ever, which are most important. VOL. 3 4 , NO. 13, DECEMBER 1962

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REPORT FOR ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS

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One is t h a t guiding m a n a g e ment's decisions should be a person who h a s an intimate knowledge a n d experience of t h e discipline for which the building is intended. This is more valuable if he has worked in laboratories in different countries a n d h a s t h e facility of being able to analyse t h e most imp o r t a n t factors in the proposed use of the buildings. E v e n more important, he should be a person who can t a k e a detached view of w h a t developments 'are likely in this discipline over the next, say, 25 years, so t h a t suitable a d a p t a b i l i t y can be built in. This, of course, demands a superman b u t m a n a g e m e n t will find t h a t study of this problem a t the right time, t h e laying down of a policy of relative priorities t o be a t t a c h e d to the factors involved a n d then refraining from constant tinkering will improve its chances of obtaining a useful building.

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The I.B.M. Laboratories, Westchester County, New York, were designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen. Reproduced from "Architectural Forum," June 1 9 6 1 . The black areas designate offices, while the white areas are the laboratories

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T h e second point to t h e same end is t h a t the architect should know this m a n and be able to discuss things with him face to face, so as to be able to interpret for himself the spirit of t h e building t h a t will further these aims. This is necessary however much the remainder of t h e control of planning for m a n agement is delegated to t h e engineer (we shall call him) a n d the scientists who will work in the building. T h e scientist should t r y to detach himself 1from his particular needs for a period in the early stages of

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the design when the general shape and function of the building are being settled. T h e wider his experience of different ways in which similar needs have been met, the better he should be prepared to state just w h a t he needs himself. This statement need not be in t h e form of a list of rooms of such and such a size, but of the functions t h a t require to be accommodated. It will enable the architect to m a k e suggestions t h a t m a y be more economic or useful t h a n if he started from a fixed conception of the space needed for various activities. H e m a y be able to suggest a different method of working t h a t will, for example, reduce the a m o u n t of expensively serviced laboratory space being used for simple purposes such as reading and writing. I t will contribute to flexibility if the needs of various scientists can be adjusted to allow standardisation of services and benches. T h e architect's job is essentially to interpret in the plans of the building his brief from the m a n a g e ment, looking as far as t h e y both can into the future, and allowing for what m a y develop. Experience or study of similar buildings will be helpful but so too will experience in entirely different disciplines which m a y help the architect, for instance, to suggest for a laboratory a straightforward method of handling materials which is the result of developments m a d e in industry on a different scale for the purpose of economy of operation. H e also has

his architectural duty to provide a building t h a t will express the philosophy of its purpose, and to consider the wider implications of its place in the environment. Research Laboratories

Laboratories group themselves into three main categories: research laboratories, control laboratories, and laboratories for teaching. I n general, these have different needs for flexibility and this is probably the most i m p o r t a n t qualitative judgement to m a k e in the early stages of planning. I t must t a k e very much into account the discipline involved, and must also consider the size and type of equipment to be used. For instance, in physics research, it is common for the space required for a particular experiment gradually to increase as it develops, and more men and more equipment are involved in the work until perhaps, the problem is solved, or it moves into the phase where larger scale equipment is needed. This obviously demands a building with easily moved walls and great flexibility of resources. T h e plan of the laboratories designed for I.B.M. are an admirable example of a plan form suitable for this purpose and one in which any service m a y be brought to the l a b oratory through service areas without disturbance. I n biology however, the tools used will be similar for a wide range of successive experiments, and if more men become involved in an

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REPORT

Plan of the micro-organismal and pharmacological suite at Alderley Park of the Pharmaceutical Division of I.C.I. Ltd.

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experiment they still need the same benches, microscopes, operating tables and other facilities. This makes for a cellular type of plan of which the I.C.I. Pharmaceutical Laboratories at Alderley Park are typical. These were based on an arrangement by the U. S. Depart­ ment of Agriculture. The walls are non-structural but the plan arrangement permits a great deal of flexibility for this type of work without alteration except, perhaps, of the bench tables or the moving of a service pedestal. On the Continent, this principle is sometimes carried even further and many laboratories are given identical services and facilities to cover generously everything that scientists doing this type of work might conceivably need. This is possibly over-lavish for some economies and also reduces the need for improvisation. It is possible that the need to improvise has positive merit for a research worker. As is well known, many developments have taken place in very inadquate accommodation. In practice of course, the con­ verse is not necessarily true, and it must also be considered how much technician's work a scientist should do. It is probably for a combina­ tion of these reasons that there is a tendency now to provide labora­ tories or simply space, in which there is a minimum of fixed equip­ ment, but a ready availability of

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Photograph of the interior of the Chemical Engineering Department, Manchester College of Science and Technology showing floor boxes with services available for flexibility of bench and experiment layout

basic services—electricity, cold water, gas, drainage, possibly steam. Anything else can either be generated on the spot by portable a p p a r a t u s , or else brought in containers. T h e new department of chemical engineering a t Manchester College of Technology—converted from a disused cotton mill in a crash programme has demonstrated the usefulness of this type of servicing for a d e p a r t m e n t t h a t is constantly changing and expanding. This is combined with great financial economy. I n new buildings t h a t are to be used for research, it seems very desirable t h a t when necessary alterations are t a k i n g place for one worker, or when he has an accident or breakdown causing damage or flooding, this should inconvenience as few others as possible. For this reason all services should run within the laboratory they serve, or else in areas accessible to maintenance staff, preferably without their entering any laboratory. This means t h a t a blocked waste-pipe and subsequent flood only affects the m a n who blocked the wastepipe. Other peoples' floods are the most troublesome of all accidents. The same principle of flexibility governs the requirements of larger scale laboratories; provision for any service t h a t can be foreseen, b u t not necessarily its installation until the need arises, and the creation of special conditions on an ad hoc basis rather t h a n conditioning an

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REPORT FOR ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS

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large numbers of students moving about at the same time and those of large numbers of identical ex­ periments being performed simul­ taneously with their demands on stores and technicians, and of ex­ aminations. There is also the fact that the same ground is covered year after year, and the elusive problem of atmosphere. University type laboratories raise these prob­ lems in a much greater degree than schools, so consideration here is confined to them. When Sir Winston Churchill was moving the appointment of a Select Committee to report on the rebuild­ ing of the House of Commons on the 28th October 1943, his speech began "We shape our dwellings and afterwards our buildings shape us. . .". The building which will shape the lives of generations of scientists needs more than a plan that is cheap to construct and operate and a fashionable elevation. It needs to provide an atmosphere in which the student can be led through his years and have appropriate contact with his teachers. He must be aware of research going on and have opportunities to talk with his friends and use the library—that "extension of the laboratory." In many ways, these needs are the same today as in the days of the 19th Century, when the great chemistry halls were built with serviced benches which, and the successors to which, are to be found in universities throughout Europe. With the growth of departments however, particularly in universi­ ties, there is much heart searching about the optimum size of labora­ tories. This arises from thoughts of productivity on the one hand, when it is suggested that the more people who can hear a lecture or be supervised in a laboratory at the same time, the greater will be the effectiveness of the effort made in teaching. The technical high schools in Western Europe give ex­ amples. On the other hand is the strongly felt idea that valuable in­ fluence can only be extended effec­ tively by a teacher over a certain optimum number of students, either in lectures or laboratories. In large laboratories too, the dis­ posal of fume cupboards and the

use of balances and issue of stores require careful study to avoid con­ gestion and wasteful traffic move­ ment over long distances by stu­ dents. A high degree of decentralisation in a chemistry teaching laboratory has been planned for Manchester University which applies to staffing arrangements also, and is a con­ scious effort to reduce the scale of the area in which students will work to achieve this greater intimacy. The philosophy of various pro­ fessors and heads of departments will vary. There is the idea that all professors should be together on one floor or in an "ivory tower," so as to promote interchange of ideas between them. There is also the contrasting arrangement of each professor working in his own de­ partment near to his own research projects and more available to his students. This has even been carried to the extreme of siting a professor's suite so that it cannot be approached except through re­ search laboratories. Opinions on this subject will fluctuate over the years for varying reasons and a plan that will permit rearrangement will be of greater value to the institution for whom it is built than one that will not. Summary

A survey of laboratories in this way is bound to be superficial. It is clear however, that any new proj­ ect is better if it is contributed to in full measure by informed manage­ ment, by scientific staff, and by architects, each with a clear idea of his objective, and prepared to ex­ plain his point of view so that it can be considered by the others at an early stage of the project. Over­ riding all is the likelihood of change during the life of the building and the necessity of planning to make this as convenient as possible.

"Planning, Construction and Equip­ ment of Laboratories" is the title of a book written in Danish which is reviewed on page 72 A.