Research Building Flexibility

Opt for extra vertical shaft capacity.

Published May 2008

Two high value features of a completed lab building are: 1) you still have some empty space after occupancy, and 2) you have the ability to easily make changes to the occupancy plan. You can make lab buildings less costly by narrowly designing for a specific research mission or given portfolio of research programs, but in the end flexibility of use will be the highest value outcome of your project. Adding more vertical shaft capacity is the least expensive, highest-payoff flexibility feature you can invest in. An important flexibility performance measure is the ability to make changes to labs with your own personnel.

- From Tradeline's Research Facilities 2008 Conference