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Side of Design in Review: Top Episodes of 2024
While functionality has always been at the heart of lab spaces, great design streamlines both the teaching and learning processes, allows for dynamic collaboration between peers, and equips students with tools to prepare for the fast-paced breakthroughs of the science and technology industries.
BWBR specializes in innovative academic design, efficient research lab design, and highly technical corporate lab planning. The team excels at blending learning environments with the rigor of scientific environments to meet the unique needs of faculty and students, plus adhering to institutional standards.
Our experience with academic science and lab projects includes:
Putting Theory into Practice
BWBR is well-versed in creating environments that blend proven classroom design strategies with the necessary space and equipment for research and experimentation. We understand that to attract, retain, and prepare students, academic labs must accommodate high-performance spaces for observation, learning, and doing—as well as potentially replicating real-life working laboratory environments.
Efficient Research Labs
Dedicated space for bench-based research or instrumentation is an essential part of the study of sciences. The BWBR team understands how specific pieces of equipment may need highly controlled environments and adjacent research space. Whether we are designing for first-time learners, students preparing to enter the workforce, or faculty principal investigators, we design labs that are efficient, safe, and meet the flexible needs of institutions.
Adapting Existing Environments
In many cases, it’s possible to renovate an existing campus building into an efficient, effective, state-of-the-art lab space without starting from scratch. BWBR uses an innovative approach backed by data to help realize the full value of current facilities on campus. While every structure is unique, our team can help determine if renovation is a feasible and cost-effective option.
Designing for Flexibility
We know that needs within classrooms and facilities can shift from day to day or even hour to hour, especially in scientific environments. BWBR develops plans that support a range of functions, inside and outside the lab, from multi-use teaching spaces that work across disciplines to study areas that spark collaboration and focus between classes.
Balancing Form and Function
We create labs and science facilities that are not only highly functional, but that also look great, fostering inspiration and wellness. Comfort, daylight, and pleasing aesthetics are essential to designing scientific spaces that both students and faculty enjoy spending time in and that fully support their holistic needs.
Projects
Fraser Hall, Chemistry Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory Facility
University of Minnesota
BWBR teamed with VJAA to create a design solution that replaces and improves outdated general and organic chemistry teaching labs...
01
Sugihara Hall
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University’s new Sugihara Hall is a four-story laboratory intensive building that incorporates right-sized research labs with teaching labs, graduate...
02
Jaharis Science Laboratories and Hastad Hall
Carroll University
This two-phased science project created a new science building at Carroll University, supporting the institution’s strategic plan to “improve academic...
03
Biological Sciences Center, Third and Fourth Floors Renovations
University of Minnesota
The two-floor renovation of the College of Biological Sciences Building supports the University of Minnesota’s academic mission, as well as...
04
Heikkila Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Originally designed to accommodate 300 students, the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s (UMD) 70-year-old chemistry facility now works to serve more than 450 chemistry...
05
Shepherd Laboratories, College of Science and Engineering Gemini-Huntley Robotics Research Laboratory
University of Minnesota
Under the Minnesota Discovery, Research and InnoVation Economy (MnDRIVE) initiative by the State Legislature, robotics is an increasingly important component...
06Related Perspectives
January 2, 2024
Putting Lab Design Under the Microscope at BWBR
The folks in lab design at BWBR have no trouble seeing common ground between their work as designers and their scientist clients’ work.
March 14, 2022
Converting an Existing Campus Building into a Modern Science Lab: 5 Design Drivers
One thing that clients are often surprised to hear is that in many cases it’s possible to renovate an existing facility into an efficient, effective, state-of-the-art lab space.
December 21, 2022
Designing Smarter Spaces for Science and Technology
Interior design and architecture are often described as perfectly blending art, science, and technology.
January 10, 2017
Harnessing Power of Visible Learning: A Better Classroom Design
How does someone learn to juggle? While many would answer with “practice,” others may describe the perfect technique. What if...
February 26, 2020
BWBR Selected to Design New UW-River Falls SciTech Center
University of Wisconsin-River Falls officials announced recently the selection of BWBR to design the new Science and Technology Innovation Center...
October 26, 2017
NDSU’s A. Glenn Hill Center Receives AIA North Dakota Merit Design Award
An academic destination designed to bring together disciplines in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the A. Glenn Hill Center for...