Sustainability

Whether renovating an existing lab space or building a new one, conserving energy is likely to be a top priority—even more important than the return on investment. No longer a pie-in-the-sky goal, achieving net zero carbon in standard wet labs is now within reach with the right combination of measures, starting with ventilation management and moving toward electrification. Even cleanrooms, which are among the highest energy intensive laboratory types, could be next. MIT.nano, which opened in 2018 after seven years of planning and design, achieved best-in-class for energy performance, which the designers call “the first big step toward net zero” for these ultra-high-intensity facilities.

Western Washington University broke ground in March of 2023 on the $73.6 million Kaiser Borsari Hall in Bellingham. Designed by Perkins&Will, the 54,000-sf structure will accommodate the school's growing programs in computer science, electrical engineering, and energy science and technology. The four-story building will provide active learning classrooms, teaching and research labs, offices, breakout areas, a multicultural student lounge, and a collaborative commons. 

The new Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., is designed for groundbreaking performance and efficiency, with expectations of achieving an energy use intensity (EUI) of approximately 18 compared to the average usage of 130 at other campus buildings. Maintaining low energy consumption, optimizing occupant comfort, minimizing the mechanical cooling needs, and expressing energy performance through design were especially important goals for the institute, which is intended to be a living laboratory for educating the next generation of energy experts.

Sterling Bay completed construction in March of 2023 on a 320,000-sf life sciences center in Chicago. Designed by Gensler to promote collaboration and innovation, the eight-story building provides Class A lab and office environments in the heart of the planned Lincoln Yards mixed-use district. With 33' by 40' column-free bays, the 285,000-rsf project offers flexible floorplates of approximately 42,000 sf supported by two dedicated outdoor air systems.

Wesleyan University is constructing a four-story, 190,000-sf science building in Middletown, Conn. Designed by Payette, the inclusive and accessible facility will provide 39 research and support labs, 10 classrooms, nine teaching labs, a vivarium, and a greenhouse. A central commons will act as a welcoming destination for informal interaction and study, accompanied by a café, an enclosed courtyard, and a landscaped plaza.

Longfellow Real Estate Partners broke ground in February of 2023 on Avia Labs in Millbrae, Calif. Designed by Flad Architects, the 479,000-sf life science facility will provide 315,000 rsf of Class A lab and office space arranged in a 50:50 ratio. The six-story building will also house state-of-the-art conference rooms, a fitness center, and a publicly accessible café. JLL has secured a $310 million construction loan for the project, which will integrate an advanced HVAC system supplying 12 air changes per hour.

New rules on mass timber construction in the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) significantly expand the opportunities to use engineered wood as the primary structural material in laboratory buildings. The updated version of the code establishes three new types of construction that now permit “mass timber buildings of taller heights, more stories above grade, and greater allowable areas compared to existing provisions for heavy timber buildings,” according to a summary from the International Code Council.

Wake Technical Community College is constructing the $72.4 million General Education Building in Wendell, N.C. Designed by BSA LifeStructures, the 118,000-sf facility will offer active learning classrooms, science labs, a library, an auditorium, tutoring areas, study spaces, and a food service venue. Supporting associate degree programs in engineering, science, and art, the welcoming and inclusive structure will also provide an array of student services including admissions, advising, and financial aid.

Pennsylvania State University opened the $88.2 million Engineering Design and Innovation Building in February of 2023. Designed by Payette and Lamar Johnson Collaborative, the 105,000-gsf facility provides maker spaces, teaching and research labs, two active learning venues, general-purpose classrooms, and faculty and departmental offices. The four-story structure offers multiuse design studios, machine shops, and prototyping and fabrication suites, as well as housing the Factory for Advanced Manufacturing Education Lab and the Bernhard M.

Genentech broke ground in February of 2023 on a $280 million biologics manufacturing center in Oceanside, Calif. The small-batch facility will utilize single-use bioreactors for the commercial production of innovative therapeutics such as personalized medicines and treatments for rare diseases. Featuring advanced automation platforms and digital technologies, the 84,000-sf plant will leverage in-house process improvements to achieve increased flexibility, speed, and output.

The University of Tennessee is constructing the $95 million Agriculture and Natural Resources Building in Knoxville. Designed by Barber McMurry Architects and Lord Aeck Sargent, the 157,000-gsf facility will provide the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources with both interdisciplinary and specialized lab environments for teaching, research, and public service.

Chico State University broke ground in February of 2023 on a $98 million facility for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences in Chico, Calif. Designed by AC Martin, the 94,000-sf building will provide 22 classrooms, five research labs, conference and breakout rooms, faculty offices, and a large tiered lecture hall. Accommodating nine academic departments, the collaborative structure will feature integrated technologies to support a variety of learning modalities.

Gattuso Development Partners and Vigilant Holdings broke ground in February of 2023 on a $450 million life sciences center in Philadelphia. Located in the University City district on the campus of Drexel University, the 11-story, 519,647-rsf building will provide wet and dry research labs for the creation of novel therapeutics and medical technologies. Drexel will occupy 60,000 sf in the collaborative structure to enable the growth of core R&D functions and selected academic programs.

The University of California, Berkeley is constructing the Gateway, a visionary new home for the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society. Designed by Weiss/Manfredi and Gensler, the $650 million building will strategically collocate open lab and office neighborhoods in a continuous flow to promote cross-fertilization of ideas and insights.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will begin construction in mid-2023 on a high-performance laboratory building to replace its current aging facility in Lakewood, Colo. The three-story, 70,000-sf structure located at the Denver Federal Center will provide sophisticated testing suites, analytical labs, and collaborative research spaces.