Laboratory Design Newsletter - March/April 2017

A background in hard science is critical for student job hunting success in the increasingly crowded field of forensic science.

Fig. 1: Relative vibration limits for a number of building uses.

The northern elevation features extensive glazing, which opens up visually and physically to a landscaped quad. Natural plantings will be used throughout the landscaped portion of the project in order to alleviate unnecessary use of water. Image: TVA Architects

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Adam Denmark, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, and Steve Hackman, AIA, LEED AP SmithGroupJJR

The forensic field is attracting new graduates from forensic science ducation programs every year and the number of individuals necessary to meet anticipated demand in the industry is expected to grow at a faster rate than other professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, many students attempting to enter the field lack the balanced academic background that crime laboratories increasingly demand. This viewpoint was underscored at a forensic education roundtable discussion attended by an international panel of forensic laboratory leaders and hosted by SmithGroupJJR, an integrated architecture, engineering and planning firm. During that conversation, consensus was reached that job seekers must have a far more diverse yet balanced education, and that there are both benefits and challenges to expanded partnerships between education providers and forensic facilities.

Ethan Brush Acentech

Many laboratory research activities require environments with extremely minimal vibration. Unacceptably high vibrations in a sensitive lab area can place severe limits on the measurements and investigations that can be done. Exposure of ultra-sensitive equipment to ground motions coming from outside the building, personnel activities or the extensive support machinery often found in high technology facilities can lead to the inability of a lab to function as intended. For this reason, much attention is given to controlling site vibrations in the design and maintenance of sensitive laboratory facilities.