Lab flexibility isn’t a casework decision – it’s a a whole-building proposition.
In an article for LabDesign News, Rainey Hufstetler, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB makes the case for rethinking how research environments are designed from the ground up. With budget cuts and professionals pursuing new industries, the pressure on research institutions is real, and the buildings that support science need to be ready to absorb it.
Rainey’s argument cuts through the noise: the most underutilized lever in lab flexibility isn’t adjustable furniture. It’s shared infrastructure. Core facilities positioned at the seams between programs doesn’t just reduce cost; they create the conditions for collaboration. Proximity is one of the most powerful tools a designer has.
With 25 years of experience planning research environments, Rainey brings a perspective that goes beyond the bench: to the structural frame, the service chase, and every layer in between. To read the full article in LabDesign News, click here.
