Soft space is a useful building amenity for attracting top researchers. Lounges, informal learning areas, and public spaces in lab buildings increase PI and grad student socialization and allow “aha” moments. Soft space is now being seen as necessary and is accounting for as much as 5 percent of the net square footage of science buildings. To “amp” the socialization factor of a science building in the planning stages, do away with corridors and replace them with meeting and hang-out spaces.

- From Tradeline's Academic Science Buildings 2005 Conference

What is soft space?