How do you create a world-class laboratory facility in a 120-year-old building to support two research specialties – Biomedical Chemistry and Nanoscience? Use a collaborative design approach and create lab space that promotes communication, accessibility, and flexibility.

New York University wanted to promote cross-disciplinary research by unifying lab spaces. The Biomedical Chemistry Institute consists of one large lab space configured with modular casework per floor. The design creates flexible space for expanding research groups while contracting their space allotments based on specific research requirements, leaving no bench unused or underused.  

Social spaces are centrally located and visible along primary circulation routes through the floors. The glass-enclosure of the lab allows natural daylight to stream in and creates maximum visibility between lab bays. You can spy students working together, tackling sophisticated research in areas like carbohydrate-based cancer diagnostics, anti-malarial drug development, or new antibiotics.

The exposed MEP and lab services make pragmatic sense for accessibility and future flexibility. The glass box enclosure puts the science on display, showcasing the laboratory as the most exciting space on the floor. While maintaining efficiency standards, internal lighting is brighter than adjacent spaces, creating a dramatic focus on the students’ work.  

This project sets the design standards for transforming the 400,000 GSF Silver Building to advance NYU’s strategy for growing its research programs within its constrained urban campus.