Lab Planning 101: Designing for Future Generations- Lab Planning Tech Tools
Planning the next great laboratory requires relentless collaboration between people in different roles and disciplines. The new generation of lab planners and laboratory managers have tools we didn’t have even ten years ago to help design and complete projects. As we look towards the future of the tools used in laboratory design, Autocad, desktop-based apps, and FTP sites are long gone. Everything is now web-based, subscription-driven, and accessible by both consumers and producers. Both designers and lab managers can leverage cutting-edge software to streamline processes, enhance communication, and create more efficient and effective laboratory spaces. In this article, we explore four key design tech tools that are shaping the landscape of lab planning: Professional (Building Information Modeling) BIM and consumer-friendly BIM programs, Bluebeam Studio for PDF document management, Miro for collaborative white-boarding, and Matterport photography 3D survey for documenting existing labs and projects under construction.
Revit BIM for Comprehensive 3D and 2D Design Documentation
Revit has been around for two decades and is the comprehensive platform used by most design firms for drawing, designing, and creating precise plans and construction documents. Its advanced features allow for the creation of detailed 3D models that accurately represent the envisioned laboratory space. From layout design to structural planning, Revit provides a unified environment where architects, consultants, and engineers can collaborate seamlessly, ensuring that every aspect of the project is meticulously planned and executed.
With Revit, lab planners can visualize designs in real-time, make immediate adjustments, and generate accurate documentation for construction. This not only enhances efficiency but also minimizes errors and discrepancies throughout the planning and building phases. Clients benefit from a clear understanding of the proposed design, enabling them to provide feedback and make informed decisions that align with their objectives and requirements.
Revit is also expensive and difficult to master, so it’s not practical for a lab manager who is looking to get an initial layout going. One hobby-level program that’s free, low-cost, and easy to use is Room Sketcher. The RoomSketcher app is web-based and an easy floor plan tool that lets you create floor plans, furnish and decorate them, and visualize them in 3D.
As a consumer-friendly options RoomSketcher provides an accessible platform and intuitive program to empower anyone to test various design concepts, experiment with different configurations, and do a quick visualization of the laboratory environment.
Bluebeam Studio for Seamless Document Sharing
Fortunately for the trees, paper blueprints are a thing of the past. On the other hand, the gigantic carbon footprint of data centers is a topic for another article. Design drawings have been digital for a while and will continue to stay that way. Bluebeam Studio is a collaborative platform for sharing and reviewing sets of documents in real time. Bluebeam is for marking up and annotating PDFs. It is very easy for beginners to learn quickly enough to get started and communicate effectively with your team, and it has great utility for power users. Lab planners and stakeholders can markup drawings, track changes, and distribute documents effortlessly, regardless of their location. By streamlining the review and approval process, Bluebeam Studio enhances efficiency and reduces turnaround time, ensuring that project milestones are met on schedule. Clients benefit from enhanced transparency and communication, enabling them to stay informed and actively participate in the decision-making process.
Miro is a fun and easy-to-use Visual Collaboration Tool
Miro is a visual thinking platform that can be learned in minutes to kickstart programming and concept design. The web-based app empowers remote, in-office, and hybrid teams to brainstorm and iterate on design concepts effectively. With its easy-to-use digital sticky notes, drawing tools, and simple copy-paste tools, Miro encourages active participation and engagement. Anyone can contribute ideas and insights in real-time or asynchronously. From ideation sessions to design charrettes, Miro facilitates dynamic collaboration. Its flexible canvas allows for the creation of digital mood boards, equipment information, and copy and pasting of PDF drawings. On-board tools like mind-mapping, pull-planning, and SWOT analysis satisfied both the right and left-brain thinkers in the room.
Matterport Photography 3D Surveys for Enhanced Visualization
Existing labs, renovations, and new construction projects can all benefit from the use of Matterport photography 3D surveys. The technology is an easy-to-implement solution that captures the visual data of a given project site. By creating immersive 3D models of the existing lab space, lab planners have a record of existing equipment, benching layout, and furniture. For space undergoing renovation, a visual survey helps to document structural layout, spatial dimensions, and architectural features, facilitating informed decision-making and accurate planning.
Matterport photography is also a useful tool during construction, allowing team members to monitor progress remotely and conduct virtual site visits without the need for physical presence. This not only enhances efficiency but also minimizes disruptions and delays, ensuring that the project stays on track and within budget.
The evolution of design tech tools in laboratory planning has equipped a new generation of professionals with the resources and capabilities to navigate the complexities of modern lab design. These tools are helping us create labs that are better than ever before. With each new tool we try and each project we do, we get closer to making labs that are not just places but exciting places where amazing things happen.
Jennifer Swedell AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a member of NOMA, an associate principal with CO Architects, and a seasoned laboratory planner and designer with over 17 years of lab design experience for academic, government, and private industry clients.
All opinions expressed in Lab Planning 101 with Jennifer Swedell are exclusive to the author and are not reflective of Lab Design News.
