TOP 10 DESIGN STRATEGIES for 21st century lab productivity

TOP 10 DESIGN STRATEGIES for 21st century lab productivity

Creating a space that not only inspires creativity but also optimizes research productivity is no small task.

Ten design strategies and features are key to moving the needle of the productivity metrics.

1. Connect to nature (biophilia): A definition of biophilic design

can be summarized as real or representational nature in architecture and interior design. The concept is based on research confirming that the human brain responds functionally to sensory patterns and cues found in the natural environment. Some examples of these connections include natural wood materials, green walls, murals of nature scenes, views outdoors, and the use of shapes found in nature.

3. Maximize the ergonomics.

Ever wake up with a stiff neck or wonder why height adjustable standing desks are so popular? Better check your ergonomics. Proper posture, less exertion, and fewer motions to complete a task lead to higher productivity. Being able to work longer before fatigue sets in and being able to position the workstation for easy access to instrumentation and tools saves time and effort. Using adjustable chairs, benches, sit-to-stand desks, and other ergonomically beneficial furniture and fixtures improve posture and ergonomics.

Some of the positive impacts of biophilic design include better cognitive functioning on tasks requiring concentration and memory; improved worker performance, lower stress, and greater motivation; and enhanced healing and recovery from illness, major surgical procedures, and social problems.

4. Optimize work lighting. One-third of U.S. employees experience 2. Add some color.

Retailers know that colors affect mood and emotions. Fast-food restaurants usually have sharp, vivid colors, whereas clothing stores and other places where lingering is encouraged typically have cooler colors. Sharp, vivid reds enhance energy while yellows help people feel alert and clear-headed. Bright colors, such as reds, blues, and greens, enable higher focus and task accuracy. Cool colors, such as blues and greens, promote calm and creative thinking. The right frame of mind for focus allows for higher productivity.

downtime due to headaches and eye strain. In the lab, ambient lighting is often insufficient for work at the bench. Beyond proper brightness, task lighting can also provide other essential lab features, such as adequate color rendering, temperature, directionality, and diffusion.

5. Be nimble. Understanding lab operations is essential to designing for future adaptability and seamless changes to accommodate a new research focus. It will also account for users with more extensive equipment needs versus more bench-top space. Anticipating the potential chemical usage of the worst-case user groups allows for the creation of control area strategies that will not hinder future changes and use.

8. Limit distractions. The two most commonly cited distractions are

excessive noise and visual interruptions. When work requires concentration, disruptions can expect up to 20 minutes for personnel to reorient. The biggest culprit? Large, open work areas. The evidence is becoming clear that with open-plan design comes a drop in productivity. Even in the most highly touted research facilities, researchers “have been spotted wearing chunky headphones” after complaining that “the open-plan design is too noisy, and they can’t concentrate.”

However, what researchers and other personnel are asking for is a balance between spaces that offer stimulation and enable concentration. Thus, a mixture of open and more private spaces provides the optimal environment for researchers with differing needs and personalities to do their most productive work.

6. Let the sun shine. Like proper indoor lighting, research has shown that daylight has its benefits. It helps regulate circadian rhythms, which improves health and productivity in several ways. Employees with views of natural light experienced a reduction in absenteeism and an increase in productivity, job satisfaction, work involvement, and organizational attachment.

9. Design for proximity. While large, open labs can cause distractions,

research confirms that some proximity, up to 35 feet, has a positive impact on collaboration among researchers. In fact, it helps if the researchers are on the same floor, which illustrates that passive contacts, or chance “collisions,” outside of the lab are where collaborations begin and creativity emerges.

7. Embrace the need for speed.

As laboratories go through changes and expansions over time, adjacencies, layouts, and headcount typically depart from the ideal. Using Operational Improvement (OI) tools and techniques such as simulations, cluster analyses, and spaghetti mapping, sources of wasted motion and bottlenecks can be pinpointed. Only then can throughput speed and capacity be increased by redesigning workflows and adjacencies.

Yet nothing comes close to maximizing throughput in a testing lab like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Glen Dakan, co-founder of a stealth-mode animal health biotech startup in Kansas City, is applying hardware and software automation to diagnostic processes traditionally run by humans at the lab bench. “Artificial intelligence and machine learning are at the heart of our business model,” said Dakan. “We are predicting an order-of-magnitude effect on cost and efficiency, compared to traditional diagnostic methods.”

Image on reverse: Built-in flexibility, this laboratory design includes long, movable workbenches and desks with multiple functions and modular spaces.

More attention should be placed on designing collision spots along circulation routes and public areas where occupants cross paths. These small nooks and other gathering spots can encourage face-to-face interaction and sharing by featuring comfortable seating, coffee, connection to WiFi, and other amenities.

10. Mix the disciplines.

There is a relationship between interdisciplinary research and the probability of discovery. When research is a collaboration of different scientific fields, the number of citations increases significantly. Arizona State University (ASU) made a big bet on interdisciplinary research, changing the direction of research funding and lab design. The New American University initiative strives to “tear down walls between traditional academic departments” to create an interdisciplinary teaching and research university.

The results speak for themselves. The University’s federally funded research portfolio grew by 162 percent over 11 years. During that time, the number of funded interdisciplinary projects rose by 75 percent, whereas projects led by one department climbed by just 8 percent.

Creating inspired solutions that improve lives To learn more about laboratory design, contact: David Miller Assoc. AIA National Discovery Leader Email: dmiller@bsalifestructures.com bsalifestructures.com 800.565.4855