planning science facilities for education (lab design concepts)

Planning Science Facilities For Education

• Laboratory Design Concepts & Furniture

Variables• Educational level

– Elementary– High School– College– University / Research

• Discipline– General Science– Chemistry– Biology– Physics– Technology

This presentation will focus primarily on high school level science facilities

• Design Criteria– Laboratory Safety– Student Supervision– Student/Teacher Sight Lines– Instructor Preparation Time– ADA Requirements– Proper Utilization Of Floor Space– Mechanical Costs

General Guidelines

• Limit class sizes to no more than 24

• 45 sq.ft. per student minimum– For laboratory only

• 60 sq.ft per student minimum– For laboratory / classroom combination

• Number of accidents increase considerably when area / student ratio drops below 1:41

General Guidelines

• Chemical storage guideline of 1 sq.ft. per student

• Preparation area guideline of 9 – 10 sq.ft. per student

• Horizontal work surface guideline of 9 sq.ft. per student

• Ceiling height of 10’– For ventilation, visibility, projection

General Guidelines

• 48” minimum aisles• 36” minimum between fixed objects• Wall cases: mount 18” – 24” above work

surface (varies with lab level)• Avoid alcoves • Address secondary egress

Pier Table Lab Design

Pier Table Lab Design

Wood Pier Lab with Sinks & Fixtures

Wood Pier Stations

Maple Pier Tables

Plastic Laminate Pier Tables

Plastic Laminate Pier Tables with Wood Grain Appearance

Pier Lab Design Concerns

Laminate Laboratory Casework

Laminate Pier Tables

Trifacial Island Lab Design

Trifacial Island Lab Design Details

Trifacial Construction Details• 34-gallon sink• Designed especially for earth and

life sciences, with a large wash-up sink for easy clean up

• Available in molded fiberglass or with a chemically resistant, epoxy-resin top

• Available in fixed and moveable models

• The Trifacial is adjustable at the time of installation, allowing the island to be installed at the optimum height for planned working conditions.

• Equipped with three vandal-resistant Unicast cold water and gas fixtures and three GFI duplex electrical receptacles

Trifacial Unit with Fiberglass Understructure & Steel Pedestal

Trifacial Island Center in Biology Lab Setting

TE II Laboratory Design

TE II Construction Details

• 9” Wide Molded Epoxy Resin Trough And Raised Turrets

• Epoxy Resin Countertop With• Molded Raised

Perimeter Edge• Modular Storage Cubicles• 14 Ga. Steel Pedestal• Formed Fiberglass Support• Vandal Resistant Fixtures• With Powder Coat

Finish• ADA Version

TEII Student Lab Tables with Gray Epoxy Resin Counter Tops

TE II Tables with Black Epoxy Resin Tops

Iona Preparatory High School in New Rochelle, NY

TEII Lab Tables with Storage Option

TE II Lab Centers in Combination Chemistry/Biology Laboratory

Academy of Holy Angels in Demarest, NJ

Lab Design Best Practices

• Students should face teachers

• Share support / prep space (with adjacent lab spaces)

• Avoid raised reagent shelves

• Allow access to shared storage from hallways (without entering lab)

• Provide windows to general storage

Axis Infinity Laboratory Tables

Axis Table Characteristics

• Table height adjusts from a sitting height of 30″ to a standing height of 36″

• Infrared remote control for adjustable table-surface height• Molded, raised-edge, chemically resistant top• Sink assembly with two vandal-resistant Unicast cold water

and gas fixtures• Available with or without sink• Frontal ADA wheelchair accessible at all points of use• Optional mobile storage cubicles designed specifically to

work with the Axis Table are available and are sold separately.

• Two-tiered 19-gallon ADA compliant sink• Student privacy panels available

Modern Chemistry Lab Design

High School Chemistry Lab

High School Science Lab

Reference Sources

• National Science Teachers Association

• National Science Educational Leadership Association

• Americans with Disabilities Act

• Prudent Practices in the Laboratory

Longo Contact Information

• info@longoinc.com

• (800) 635-6646

• (860) 904-4408 Connecticut, Rhode Island

• (201) 825-1500 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

• (508) 635-4354 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont