This is a fascinating report. What we're struck by is that, while there are clear differences between disciplines, geographic locations, and demographics, that there's a great of consensus about what users want. If you're about to start a project in this space, you'd do well to read it.
What made us chuckle was the highlight on the webpage which says users want "Flexibility to effortlessly adapt to any research need." If you've not been involved building design, you'd be forgiven for wondering why that's funny - seems like such a sensible desire doesn't it?
The truth is providing this level of flexibility is very challenging. Beyond the fact users often can't articulate what they're going to need in the future (I'm told on good authority that predicting the future is tricky...), it's often technically very complex. And that means expensive - both in terms of finances and environmental impact.
What we've seen is a tension between three players in the procurement of these buildings:
1- the budget holder (often more than one party) is rightly focused on making sure the project is affordable.
2 - the users want the best possible building that facilitates the world class research we all want and need our scientists to do.
3 – the corporate entity (i.e. university, pharma co, etc) will likely have corporate policy, such as Net Zero, which will carry a host of implications.
The challenge is that achieving 2 and 3 puts pressure on 1. That’s because budget’s are often fixed too soon in the process and can frequently be based on historical costs of other projects with less ambition.
Also ‘sustainability’ is frequently shown as a separate line item in the cost plan which is very odd. Notwithstanding the limitations of policies, it implies that complying is in some way an additional cost but if, compliance is part of the brief, it’s part of the brief – to use a handy Americanism, “period”.
Here's our solution: Make the building a little smaller.
By making the building a few percent smaller, you free up both financial and carbon budget to accommodate technically feasible flexibility & other features users want and the performance that the corporate entity requires.
We know, radical huh?
Again, if you haven’t been involved in building design, you’ll probably think that’s not a mad idea but, trust us, users who have worked hard to raise funding and are focused on creating amazing science can get incredibly precious over every square meter of space they’ve been promised and those in corporate teams who've worked hard to navigate the complexities of the organisation’s governance structure to get commitment on important environmental policy can become incredibly frustrated about how decision makers can so casually set it aside.
Let us know in the comments if you recognise any of this. And, if you do, do you think the solution is madness or might it work?
![View organization page for NBBJ Design, graphic]()
A lab designed for collaboration. A healthy, sustainable research building. Flexibility to adapt to any need. Understanding scientists’ preferences in the workplace is critical to ensure that research buildings are sound real estate investments, promote innovation, and support well-being.
Yet despite a predicted $90 billion being spent on lab construction over the next ten years, no comprehensive survey has been conducted to understand what scientists want at work. Until now.
We partnered with The New York Academy of Sciences to survey 1,059 scientists from the organization’s global community. When paired with design solutions, the responses provide valuable insights into how research buildings can be built differently. Read more about what we learned—and how our findings can be applied to create the research buildings of the future—here: https://lnkd.in/gu5mmCCJ
And stay tuned for more survey insights related to remote work, technology and sustainability coming in January.
#workspace #science #research #labdesign #architecture #nyasciences #nbbjdesign
Leading adviser to science and tech parks over four decades, and now-retired solicitor
9moLooking forward to your session, Liz Sparrow, at the BisNow conference next week … are you also coming to Babraham Research Campus for the UKSPA - The United Kingdom Science Park Association members meeting the week after?