Tradeline's industry reports are a must-read resource for those involved in facilities planning and management. Reports include management case studies, current and in-depth project profiles, and editorials on the latest facilities management issues.
Latest Reports
University of Washington's Molecular Engineering and Sciences Building Reduces Lab Air Changes for Energy Savings
In the on-going drive to advance campus-wide environmental stewardship, the University of Washington's new Molecular Engineering and Sciences Building (MolES) incorporates several unusual strategies for energy savings and sustainability. A 40 percent reduction in the number of air changes lightens the load on the mechanical systems that serve technically challenging laboratories, while operable office windows, phase change material (PCM), and solar chimneys are part of a more "organic" approach to heating and cooling.
Transforming Research Pedagogy by Focusing on Collaborative Space
The University of Rochester is transforming the traditional approach to teaching experimental chemistry with a recent fast-track remodel of 40-year-old undergraduate instructional labs in Hutchison Hall. The new ultra-green $1.5 million facility—which went from conception to completion in six months—is designed to maximize safety and learning with an unprecedented focus on collaborative space and state-of-the art multimedia capabilities.
2013 Priorities for Biocontainment Facilities
Tradeline asked 120 individuals representing 98 research organizations to prioritize their areas of focus for 2013 and to make open-ended comments regarding those priorities. The priorities identified in this survey will be the focus of Tradeline's upcoming conference: The 2013 International Conference on Biocontainment Facilities on March 18-19, 2013, in San Diego.
The respondents’ overall priorities are:
1. Pressure and airflow control
2. Maintenance/operations requirements and processes
3. People, teams, and competency
Avoiding Unexpected Downtime and Life Cycle Costs in Biocontainment Laboratories
Despite years of planning, in-depth professional experience, and multiple layers of oversight, things often do not work as planned at biocontainment laboratories. Even when they meet all safety and security requirements, facilities may run into unexpected life cycle costs which only become evident after a year or two of occupancy and operation, says Tim Mandrell, DVM, director of lab animal care for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHTC) Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. Knowing what problems to look and prepare for can help minimize costly facility downtime.
Secchia Center
The Secchia Center, the new home of Michigan State University's expanded College of Human Medicine and the cornerstone for life sciences in West Michigan, is expected to increase enrollment to 800 students in 2014. Its establishment in Grand Rapids serves the needs of MSU CHM students and collaborative initiatives with the College's health partners.