The program component areas in net square feet (nsf) for a Chemistry and Biology Laboratory
building are as follows (students may choose to elaborate their design solution in metric, 1
square meter = 10.76 square feet):
1.0 Public spaces 4200 nsf
2.0 Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories
3.0 Chemistry Laboratories 3500 nsf
4.0 Biology Laboratories 10500 nsf
5.0 Support areas 1800 nsf
Total area requirements (in net square feet, nsf) 20000 nsf
6.0 Building operational areas 4300 nsf
7.0 Building services and systems 5700 nsf
Total area requirements (in gross square feet, gsf) 30000 gsf
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Labs for the 21st Century Student Design Competition
Competition Program
1.0 Public spaces 4200 nsf
The Lobby, Foyer, and Lecture halls should visibly communicate, to the public
in general and the University community in particular, the University’s
continued commitment to sustainability. The design should provide adequate
seating areas for the Lobby and Foyer.
Lobby 1200 nsf
Foyer 300 nsf
The Foyer is a place for meeting and carrying on spontaneous conversations
before and after activities held in a Lecture hall.
Lecture hall 2@1200 nsf 2400 nsf
Each Lecture hall will accommodate 100 people (10 nsf/person) in fixed seats
with provisions for the physically-challenged. A standing area or gallery of
150 sq. ft. should be located behind the seating area. It should provide for a
Video Projection Booth of 50 nsf. Competitors should consider the alternative
of designing one large Lecture hall, able to accommodate 200 people, which
may be subdivided into two smaller halls.
Women’s restroom 150 nsf
The Women’s restroom should contain toilet compartments, washbasins, and
an extended area for make-up.
Men’s restroom 150 nsf
The Men’s restroom should contain toilet compartments, wall mounted
urinals, and washbasins.
2.0 Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories
Each Laboratory should provide bench space for eighteen to twenty-four (1824)
undergraduate students. A typical lab module of 10’-6” x 31’-6” supports
four to six (4-6) students. A minimum clear interior vertical dimension of 10’-
6” should be maintained throughout the space. Floor to floor vertical
dimensions will vary depending on the concept selected for the distribution
of services and systems. Laboratory spaces should allow for two means of
egress.
Laboratory spaces should be designed for the maximum number of fume
hoods so that in the future the building can be reconfigured (chemistry labs
could be retrofitted to biology labs and vice versa) without the need for
major renovation, resulting in maximum flexibility and adaptability. In
addition, laboratory spaces should be designed for shared use among the
disciplines. This shared approach responds to the growing need for crossdisciplinary
work among the sciences.
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Labs for the 21st Century Student Design Competition
Competition Program
3.0 Chemistry Laboratories 3500 nsf
In designing C h e m i s t ry Laboratories, competitors should provide the
following: layout and equipment to serve a variety of courses and
pedagogical approaches; adequate bench space for equipment and
instrumentation (a student workstation is 3-4 feet wide including a file
cabinet and data and electrical infrastructure for a computer); one (1) fume
hood for every two (2) students; adequate storage space for student
experiments; and write-up areas for documenting research experiences.
O rganic and inorganic C h e m i s t ry Laboratories re q u i re piped gases,
substantial electrical and data infrastru c t u re, and 100% outside air
ventilation.
Laboratory 2@1200 nsf 2400 nsf
Laboratory support 300 nsf
The L a b o r a t o ry support should include prep, storage, equipment, and
chemical and glassware supply areas.
Storage room 300 nsf
Faculty office 2@150 nsf 300 nsf
Teaching assistant office 150 nsf
Student lockers 2@25 nsf 50 nsf
4.0 Biology Laboratories 10500 nsf
In designing Biology Laboratories, competitors should provide the following:
layout and equipment to serve a variety of courses and pedagogical
approaches; two (2) fume hoods per laboratory; space for incubators,
refrigerators, and freezers of various sizes (between 10-20 linear feet of wall
space per laboratory should be allocated for cabinets and equipment such as
refrigerators and incubators); adequate bench and storage space for
equipment and student materials; and cabinets for chemical and flammables
storage.
Laboratory 6@1200 nsf 7200 nsf
Laboratory support 3@300 nsf 900 nsf
The Laboratory support should include prep, storage, and equipment supply
areas.
Storage room 3@300 nsf 900 nsf
Faculty office 6@150 nsf 900 nsf
Teaching assistant office 3@150 nsf 450 nsf
Student lockers 6@25 nsf 150 nsf
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Labs for the 21st Century Student Design Competition
Competition Program
5.0 Support areas 1800 nsf
Seminar/conference room 4@300 nsf 1200 nsf
Faculty, students, and staff will use the Seminar/conference room for class,
staff, and faculty meetings. Competitors should provide for a 25 sq. ft. locked
storage room for equipment, chairs, and supplies.
Lounge 2@300 nsf 600 nsf
Provide for a 25 nsf food preparation area.
6.0 Building operational areas 4300 nsf
Circulation 3000 nsf
Circulation systems include corridors, passenger elevator(s), freight elevator,
mechanical stairs, and fire stairs. The design should provide adequate seating
in corridors adjacent to Chemistry and Biology Laboratories.
Women’s restroom 300 nsf
The Women’s restroom should contain toilet compartments, washbasins, and
an extended area for make-up.
Men’s restroom 300 nsf
The Men’s restroom should contain toilet compartments, wall mounted
urinals, and washbasins.
Security office 150 nsf
Building maintenance office 150 nsf
Loading dock 200 nsf
Shipping/receiving 200 nsf
7.0 Building services and systems 5700 nsf
“Building services and systems include an electrical equipment ro o m ,
mechanical equipment room, communications equipment room, and
environmental control room.
Services must be uniformly and repetitively distributed to each laboratory and
designed to provide simple extension into the laboratory without disruption
to adjacent modules. Services may run overhead, in a service corridor, or in
interstitial space to permit changes without requiring an upgrade to the
building infrastructure, capacity, or major distribution systems. All building
system components that require routine maintenance and repair shall be
accessible without interrupting the day-to-day operations of the laboratory.
Utilities and services shall be organized into specific zones, both horizontally
and vertically, to provide uniform distribution of systems and services to each
lab module. This three-dimensional planning allows for ease of maintenance
and access of services and provides for maximum operational flexibility.”*
* from the National Institutes of Health Research Laboratory Design Policy
and Guidelines <http://des.od.nih.gov/eWeb/planning/html/labtoc.htm>
Association of Collegiate Schools of Arch
itecture