Leslie L. Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Building

The Challenge:

NXL worked closely with the design architects to ensure integration of laboratory and aesthetic design issues. The laboratory programme within the original zoning envelope determined by the City was inefficient, in which, NXL optimized the programme for laboratories based on flow and connections to write-up areas.

We were responsible for the planning and contract documents for 40,000 sf of research laboratories and support spaces. These included 16 Biochemistry, 5 Chemistry and 2 Physiology and Imaging laboratories located on levels 8 through 11 of the 12-storey building. Also included were tissue culture, common equipment, autoclave, glass washing and animal receiving rooms.

Achieving a Successful Outcome:

• We detailed the design for laboratory layouts and casework to suit the assigned floor-to-floor heights, circulation pattern, and interior design scheme.
• Natural lighting was provided to all working spaces from the lightwells, while isolating the laboratories from the environmental effects of the exterior glazed curtain wall.
• To ensure that hazardous materials would not be transported through the elevators and hallways to higher floors, modifications to the programs were made so that materials move laterally across hall to support spaces, increasing the efficiency and safety of the users.
• NXL also recommended the use of a single nitrogen generator as opposed to several tanks, which helped increase safety while lowering operational costs for the facility.