Energy and its Impact on Resilient Lab Planning
Nurix’s lab space in The Woodlands, TX prioritizes access to natural daylight. Image: Dror Baldinger, FAIA
In lab design, reliable access to energy is critical for many reasons, including the continuous operation of equipment, efficiency of research, data storage, and overall safety of the lab and its occupants. Interruptions in power can result in catastrophic losses of scientific discovery, which in turn significantly impacts a company’s finances and mankind’s scientific progress.
In our experience, we’ve seen that companies contributing to the advancement of science are attracted to, and remain in, geographic areas that have the proper energy infrastructure to support operations throughout storms, floods, and other potential natural disasters. Additionally, success is also achieved when lab designers make strategic resilience planning decisions based on local climates.
In the 1950s, indoor air conditioning became easily accessible, leading to decades of architectural designs that no longer responded as heavily to the local climate. Furthermore, energy in the United States was becoming increasingly more affordable. Architects and developers were no longer bound to the parameters of climate, leading to a design methodology of added infrastructure and utilities instead of a response to nature.
In Houston, Texas, we’ve seen that these buildings have put continued stress on the energy grid, resulting in its failure during critical times of extreme heat, cold, or rain. Due to the grid’s unpredictable nature, some companies have shied away from establishing a presence in Houston, which otherwise is comprised of the key components needed to foster a burgeoning sciences community.
Laboratories in Texas, like those at Nurix’s lab space in The Woodlands, prioritize sustainable power solutions to support groundbreaking research in curing deadly diseases, ensuring innovation thrives in secure and reliable environments. Image: Dror Baldinger, FAIA
Conversely, in New York, the investment in and establishment of microgrids after Hurricane Sandy has improved the overall dependability, sustainability, and resilience of the power supply. Through a public-private partnership, the city was able to modernize its energy infrastructure and address the needs of those affected in times of natural disasters. The efforts have resulted in a positive impact on attracting businesses to the area, especially those with progressive ESG goals.
While we determine what the future of energy looks like as it relates to labs, designers can implement strategic solutions to keep essential equipment safe and operational during times of crisis. A few ways to do that include:
Reducing energy consumption so we are less reliant on others. How do we reduce energy consumption in one of the highest-energy consumer building typologies? A first step might include working with local climate and advanced HVAC technologies. A helpful resource is I2SL (International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories), a nonprofit organization, as they provide references on best practices for low-energy lab design. Examples include advanced and clean energy recovery HVAC systems or electrical vs. gas heating systems.
Incorporating detailed and accurate designs for laboratory ventilation. The probability of naturally ventilating certain laboratories is low, but office space and amenities can be considered. Colleagues on the West Coast and California are pushing boundaries by designing smart buildings to naturally ventilate the office space. Along with other design interventions, the overall energy consumption of the J. Craig Venter Institute was reduced by 75 percent. This strategy may have a higher upfront cost, but making the investment yields long-term benefits.
Designing for the flood plain. Houston is a key example of how research facilities should be built beyond the flood plain. Although hurricanes are not new to the Gulf Coast, their impact has significantly increased. When Hurricane Beryl hit in July 2024, several residences and businesses were left without power for nine consecutive days. The operations of local biomanufacturing companies came to a halt and healthcare institutions relied heavily on emergency power generation. In flood-prone zones, it’s best practice to situate all emergency generators well above the flood plain. Many are in prized parking spots in high-rise parking garages. This strategy can also be applied to laboratories; floodgates cannot 100 percent prevent your lab from being affected if it is on the lower level or first floor.
Strengthening a weak energy grid. In Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston, the city is seeking to invest in a more resilient power plant. Recently, they received approval for a land lease of $146 million power generation plant with an output capacity of at least 135 megawatts. This plant is designed to restore lost power within minutes, regardless of weather, which is a step forward in providing a safe environment for our researchers to thrive. Separately, Levit Green, a Hines property in Houston, is studying the feasibility of adding a centralized microgrid to support the four million square foot campus at full load and remove the need for standalone building generators. Levit Green’s power needs are expected to exceed 100 MW.
Innovation does not happen in a vacuum. To optimize the generation of ideas and subsequent tests, scientists require a secure and reliable environment. In Houston, this is especially important as research nodes like the Texas Medical Center and Research Triangle house a multitude of companies and institutions that are working to find cures for deadly diseases. However, regardless of geographic location, it is in our interest to support these people and their efforts by designing resilient laboratories.
