Tradeline's industry reports are a must-read resource for those involved in facilities planning and management. Reports include management case studies, current and in-depth project profiles, and editorials on the latest facilities management issues.
Latest Reports
Equipment-Driven Planning for Capital-Intensive Academic Research Facilities
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) recently completed the construction and fit-out of their new Life Science Laboratories after receiving a $95 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)—a quasi-state agency dedicated to growing the state’s life sciences industry. The new interdisciplinary research wing features state-of-the-art equipment and core resources that will be shared across multiple research teams and industry partnerships. While the new core labs were built into a pre-existing shell with an open floorplate and operational MEP, the final design was driven by the cost-intensive equipment list. Since the agency grant designated a specific amount of funding for the equipment, the type of equipment was known but exact model and vendor was not known before many of the other design and programming decisions were made.
Montana State University Changes the Way Engineering Students Are Taught
Inspired by the pioneering vision of alumnus Norm Asbjornson, Montana State University is changing the way engineering students are taught by providing a hands-on active learning environment that fosters collaboration across multiple disciplines and puts science on display. Construction of the three-story, 110,000-sf building began in December 2016, after a comprehensive planning and design stage that spanned 28 months. The $38 million building, designed to anticipate and respond to emerging trends in education and industry, is slated for completion in November 2018, with the first classes taking place in January 2019. A $12 million parking garage will add 550 stalls.
Superlabs Drive Collaboration, Flexibility, and Space Efficiency in Academic Sciences
Whether it’s called a superlab, x-lab, or megalab, the growing trend to build combined, larger lab spaces leverages economies of scale, technology, and smart use of perimeter and adjacent space to increase flexibility and improve active student learning. While there is no standard definition of a superlab, generally speaking it is a teaching lab that can accommodate more than one section or one cohort of students.
Think Sidehouse, Not Penthouse, for Utilities Distribution
Replacing the traditional penthouse with a ground-breaking sidehouse, the new Health Sciences Building at Canada’s Carleton University represents the latest step in the evolution of academic science facilities. Along with reflecting today’s emphasis on open labs and interdisciplinary collaboration, the building’s fresh approach to utilities distribution improves overall design, lab efficiency, and adaptability for future fit-outs and changes—all while adhering to a very tight budget and construction schedule.
The Most-Read Tradeline Reports of the Year
Space Management Software Review
The Future of Space is Flexible and People Focused
Rodent Cage Technology Evolves Beyond the Simple Holding Vessel
Centralized Research Support Facility Reaping Significant Benefits
Transformation to Exclusively Digital Library Frees Up Space for UMichigan Medical School
Virtual Reality Changing Medical Education
Unique Survey Tools that Inform Design and Utilization of Academic Medical Campuses
Fostering the Convergent Science Revolution
Major Trends in Research Facility Planning and Design
Designing and Operating Maker Spaces for Today’s STEM Programs