Overview:

 This project was designed to convert an existing basement laboratory into a general-purpose laboratory which  would include a fume hood , a sink , and related casework.  The objective of the project was to create a fully functional lab, integrated with the existing building services available in the adjacent laboratory space.

Design Approach:

 A detailed survey of the existing conditions was conducted.  Field measurements of all of the existing casework available in the floor area that was to be renovated, and the existing services and casework available in the adjacent laboratory space, were taken.  Detailed investigations of the existing as built drawings were also performed with the objective of identifying the  configuration of the existing building services  that would be available to supply the lab.  Alternative plans were proposed to provide for the separate fume hood room in order to satisfy the University  Fire  Marshal 's requirement for a separate space in which the fume hood could be located within the lab.

Design Objective:

The objective of the design was to provide for a fully functional space  meeting Dr. Datta's needs.  Using the existing casework available in the lab that was to be renovated to the maximum extent possible, the new laboratory would be outfitted to meet the new functional requirements.  The existing casework was to be integrated with whatever new casework was available  from the nearby lab space so that the completed product would appear to have been constructed at one time.  Functional problems in the existing casework were identified, and corrected, as part of the project.

Design Challenge:

The new laboratory space was located in a basement.  Since the new laboratory space was intended to function as a wet laboratory , all of the services that require drainage required connection to the laboratory drainage system in the laboratory located one half level above the new laboratory space.  Several of the features of the existing laboratory, including a wheelchair lift,  had to remain in service in the new laboratory space.  The new laboratory casework,  and the construction of a fume hood room, had to occur within the constraints of the existing equipment remaining in the room.  The new HVAC systems had to be connected to the existing ventilation system in the building and balanced so that no new HVAC systems would be required to be installed.