Three teaching labs at the GW Virginia Science & Technology Campus’s (VSTC) Collections and Conservation Resource Center (CCRC) building have been completed and are now in use, enabling an expansion of health science programs on campus. Comprising of four teaching labs and associated support spaces, the fit-out provides state-of-the-art science labs for teaching chemistry, biological sciences, physics and general studies. The classrooms are designed to be flexible, allowing for alternative teaching pedagogies including scale-up and didactic instruction, and are digitally robust, including real-time projections of instructional activities. Fit-out included HVAC, electrical, tele/data and lab gases, fume hoods and bio-safety cabinets, an autoclave and other equipment. In a GW article published…

Punit Jain, AIA, LEED Fellow, has been selected as a juror of the 2016 Laboratory of the Year Awards. A prestigious and global competition, the Lab of the Year Awards recognizes the best in laboratory design through innovation, construction, sustainability and operation. Jain is a leader in our science and technology and sustainability practices. As a LEED Fellow, he has overseen the design and construction of over 24 LEED projects in the life sciences, engineering and physical sciences. He is responsible for generating innovative solutions in regenerative and net zero design for complex scientific facilities at a campus and building scale. Punit serves on the national board of the International Institute…

The Association of University Research Park’s (AURP) national conference was held at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus where leading academics, researchers and scientists convened to share the latest trends and ideas in research park development. There is a growing need to think holistically about these incubators of innovation, research and technology. Here are the 3 top trends that arose. 1. A successful park not only transforms the university, but also the surrounding community Gone are the days of research parks existing solely for the benefit of the university. There is huge socio-economic value to consider in the larger community context. How can a new park link once disparate places? How…

The University at Buffalo (UB) team placed second overall in the national U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. The team has been hard at work for over two years, fundraising and planning to make this ultra-sustainable home a reality. The UB team finished with 941.191 points out of a possible 1,000 for the GRoW (Garden, Relax or Work) Home. Stevens Institute of Technology, hailing from Hoboken, New Jersey, took first place with 950.685. Cal State Polytechnic University was a distant third at 910 points. CannonDesign joined many of our local client-partners to support the UB solar decathlon team over the years. At last year’s Environmental Awareness Week, Bob Shibley, dean of UB’s School…

How can sustainable laboratories make an impact? I was fortunate to attend the national I2SL conference in San Diego, California, recently and wanted to share my thoughts on how laboratories can conserve water—one of our most vital resources. It is both an exciting and challenging time for laboratory design. Now, more than ever we are called to bring innovative solutions to the environmental issues we all are facing. California is immersed in one of the most extreme droughts in its history. Since the conference was located in the heart of this issue, many of the discussions and presentations revolved around how best to conserve water in the laboratory setting. Related…