Lawrence University

Project Summary:
Location:	Appleton, Wisconsin
Lab Functions:	Academic instruction and research
Project Scope:	78,000 sq. ft. (four floors)
Architect:	Ellenzweig Associates, Inc. Cambridge, MA
Laboratory Furnishings and Equipment:	Hamilton Regency® Wood Casework and Horizon Fume Hoods

Lawrence University is a private, four-year institution located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The university's science labs, used primarily for undergraduate instruction in academic programs in biology, chemistry, geology and physics, needed to be upgraded. Additionally, a new building was also constructed to house all-new labs and offices. Visibility was of prime importance in these labs. Due to the number of students working in the labs and their relative inexperience in lab environments, instructors must have an unobstructed view of several workstations at once.

The ideal solution came in the form of Horizon fume hoods, which achieve unmatched visibility through glass panels on both the sides and backs of the units. Those panels allow instructors and other students to view activity from virtually any angle. Both double-sided fume hoods and single-sided wall configurations were selected, depending upon the location and space provided.

It was also important to maintain flexibility in the new facility. This ensured that evolving needs could be met, while minimizing the chance for costly reconfigurations. Horizon fume hoods met that challenge. Available in four-, five- and six-foot models, the units were easily configured in the space available.

For casework, Hamilton flush overlay Regency wood was chosen, along with black epoxy resin work surfaces. Teaching lab benches were kept short, to best utilize space and encourage student interaction. Most labs utilize higher benches for both standing and sitting. For work like dissection and microscopy, (generally prolonged activities), lower benches conducive to sitting (and thus comfort) were installed. From both a functionality and aesthetic standpoint, the university hopes to use the new labs to attract scientific talent—both students and faculty. That, in turn, will reinforce the school's reputation as a world-class institution.