Laboratory Suites

 The laboratory suites are located on the first and second floors of the building, on the North side. The external view indicates the general arrangement, with two large laboratories on each floor with service labs between them. The ceilings of these labs are formed from the exposed floor slab, comprising precast units of a sinusoidal profile and with an attractive surface finish. This feature has a number of benefits. It eliminates hidden dust traps, as found behind suspended ceilings and reduces the need for regular maintenance of paint finishes. The additional height of the rooms, together with the mass of the exposed soffit make it easier for comfortable temperatures to be maintained. Finally, the shape attenuates the propagation of sound along the lab, producing a comfortable acoustic environment and avoiding barn-like reverberations.  {short description of image}
 {short description of image}   The laboratories are air-conditioned with HEPA-filtration to reduce air-borne contamination. Each of the four laboratory suites is approximately 180m2 and is intended to accommodate 16 research scientists. The main laboratory of each suite consists of a series of bench bays and over-bench shelves made of ultra-resistant epoxy resin. Each bay has 1.5m length of bench for each of four scientists plus an additional 1 - 1.5m of shared benching (for water baths, gel rigs, etc.). At the centre of each bench is a small sink, within reach of each scientist, and a large, double drainer sink is located at the centre of each lab. Deionized water is piped to each bench. Under the benches, there is provision for a mix of cabinets, fridges and freezers. Across the gangway and next to the windows, each bench bay is associated with a bay of four desks. The desks are provided with power and ethernet and shelving for lab books.
 Each laboratory suite has a 10m2 room, which can serve as a large office/meeting room for a group leader, or be divided to provide two smaller offices. Each suite also has a tissue culture room which can accommodate up to three microbiological safety cabinets. This room will be left unfurnished, so that the group or groups occupying the suite can specify the exact type and level of equipment they require. Each pair of suites shares an instrument room which will also be left unfitted. This could be developed as a pair of hot and cold rooms, used for fume cupboards or adapted in other ways that would suit the specific scientific requirements of the occupants. Substantial dowries may be available to assist with equipping these rooms.