Building Type Basics for Research Laboratories

by Daniel D. Watch, Stephen A. Kliment, Perkins & Will

The Wiley Building Type Basics series provides architects and other professionals with the essential information they need to jumpstart the design of a variety of facilities. This volume covers the design of research laboratories, with the practical information necessary to meet the construction and renovation needs of this increasingly complex industry. Featuring more than 200 illustrations, the Second Edition now addresses laboratory construction in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and updates its information for post-9/11 research needs and trends, including the current International Building Codes. New and updated projects from a variety of designers including Duke University's Medical Science Research Building, GlaxoWellcoms laboratories in the UK, and the US government's Argon laboratory.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2001

Reviews

[crypticat · Rating 3 out of 5]

well organised and easy to follow. the text is divided into five sections: A New Design Model (an overview of topics), Laboratory Types, Architectural Design Issues, Engineering Design Issues, and Cost Guidelines. general topics dive into detail only as much as needed, and include brief commentary on specific equipment. a useful subject index is printed on both inside covers and the first and last flyleaf.

there's a decent number of case studies, including photographs that are well-composed and actually useful, not just perfunctorily included because the chapter template called for it (this is surprisingly uncommon in books like this). also plans, interior elevations, sections, perspective sections, and isometrics, all of which are annotated only where necessary. overall floorplans are printed large enough to tell what's going on without becoming cluttered and intrusive.

discussion of sustainability is unfortunately superficial, and generally uninformed and uninformative, and seems to have been included as an afterthought; but sustainability isn't necessarily relevant to the general topic of function and layout.