Best Practices

• Modular planning principles provide flexibility for future spaces that may be required due to changes in laboratory designation, equipment or departmental organization. Ensure laboratory piped services, HVAC, power and communication cables are delivered to each module in a consistent manner, and do not fix casework unless necessary (e.g. with sinks or fume hoods).
• When selecting laboratory furniture finishes, select materials for durability, cleanability, maintenance, chemical resistance, volatile organic compound off-gassing, cost and aesthetics.
• Purchase adjustable worktops and shelves that can be modified to account for the equipment height, ADA requirements, and other needs for space reconfiguration.
• Partition desks from lab benches but still in close proximity so that researchers can easily go back to desks and work on their computers.
• Build metal wall bumpers help to minimize damage as equipment is wheeled down the hall.