“When the Mount Academy was faced with equipping a science lab for our new location – a renovated monastery – we turned to Longo Associates.

From the beginning they were helpful in the choice of equipment and its layout. Along the way we had various challenges connected with constraints placed on us relating to the fact that it was a 100 year old stone building and that we wanted to maintain the ambience. In addition there was a time constraint as we were determined to have everything completed by the time we opened our doors for the new school year.

With the help of Longo Associates which included several site visits for consultation and installation we were able to meet the deadline and overcome the challenges. The result is a beautiful space which is a delight to both teach and learn in, and it will serve us well into the future.”

Please direct all inquiries with regards to school laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo.  To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo.  Nat Longo has been building school science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years.  Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked in NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA & RI.

Designing School Lab Spaces

Project:  The Mount Academy

Location:  Port Ewen, New York

Products: Trifacial Workstations, Student Lab Tables, Wood Laboratory Casework, Fume Hood & Safety Shower

School officials had begun renovations of the former Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary and Retreat Center and they needed a multi-purpose science to teach 9th-12th grade.  Longo’s laboratory consultants were called to provide design options regarding both student lab tables and space designs.

Ultimately the school chose the Sheldon Trifacial Student Lab Center with 2-student wood tables with epoxy resin counter tops.  Science lab furniture was delivered at the end of August and installation was finished up this Fall.

Related Website Downloads & Links:

Trifacial Student Lab Table Brochure

Trifacial Lab Table Drawing

Project: Hawbridge School Science Lab

Location: Saxapahaw, North Carolina

Product: Axis Lab Tables, Wood Laboratory Casework, Fume Hood & Safety Shower Equipment

Longo’s laboratory planners worked with the school’s administrative team and C.T. Wilson Construction to build a modern science lab classroom utilizing Sheldon’s Axis Infinity lab table.  The use of these lab tables allowed the school to create a combined laboratory & lecture area within the same space.

Please direct all inquiries with regards to school laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo.  To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo.  Nat Longo has been building school science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years.  Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked across the United States.

Related Website Links & Downloads:

Albertus Magnus High School Chemistry Lab (NY)

Cedar Grove Middle School Science Labs (NJ)

Iona Preparatory Mulit-purpose Science Lab (NY)

Leonia High School Science Labs (NJ)

North Branford School Science Labs (CT)

Sacred Heart Academy Science Lab (CT)

Verona High School Science Labs (NJ)

Location: Poughkeepsie, NY

Product: Wood Laboratory Casework, Pier Tables, Fume Hood

Here is a testimonial from Father John M. Lagiovane to Nat Longo:

“Thank you for advising us on our project and for taking us from start to finish with ease. Our chemistry lab is outstanding! I look forward to many more projects with you!”

Longo had completed this high school science lab project this Summer 2012. We provided laboratory planning services, furniture and installation working directly with the school to build their modern science classroom.

After demolition of existing science classroom and installation of new laboratory furniture:

Please direct all inquiries with regards to school laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo.  To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo.  Nat Longo has been building school science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years.  Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked in NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA & RI.

To learn more about Labscape’s wood laboratory casework product line, please email info@labscape.com with your contact information. If you have a project that you are currently working on please include any drawings and/or specifications that might assist us in our casework, lab furniture, lab space planning recommendations.

Related Website Links & Downloads:

Albertus Magnus High School Chemistry Lab Design & Construction Project (Bardonia, NY)

Project:  Science Labs at Wilby High School

Location:  Waterbury, CT

Product:  Wood Laboratory Casework

Please direct all inquiries with regards to school laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo info@longoinc.com.  To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo (nlongo@longoinc.com).  Nat Longo has been building school science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years.  Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked in NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA & RI.

Related Website Links & Downloads:

9th Grade Center Science Classrooms (Stamford, CT)

North Haven High School Science Labs (North Haven, CT)

Sacred Heart Academy Science Labs (Hamden, CT)

Sacred Heart School (Greenwich, CT) – Link to Architect’s Projects to see photos (see Independent Schools Section)

Project:  Science Labs at Ho-Ho-Kus K-8 School

Location:  Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

Design Firm:  DiCara Rubino Architects

American School & University’s Interior Showcase Article Link: Ho-Ho-Kus Public School

Products:  Sheldon Wood Laboratory Casework, Epoxy Resin Counter Tops

Longo provided laboratory furniture as part of the construction team at the Ho-Ho-Kus K-8 School.  This is just one of the many middle schools in New Jersey to receive Sheldon wood laboratory casework, epoxy resin tops, student laboratory tables and fume hoods .

Please direct all inquiries with regards to private school laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo info@longoinc.com.  To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo (nlongo@longoinc.com).  Nat Longo has been building school science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years.  Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked in NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA & RI.

Other School Science Classroom Construction Projects by Longo in New Jersey:

Sheldon Laboratory Systems Furniture at Academy of Holy Angels

Sheldon Laboratory Systems Furniture at Cresskill High School

Sheldon Laboratory Systems Furniture at Fair Law High School

Sheldon Laboratory Systems Furniture at Leonia High School

Sheldon Laboratory Systems Furniture at Paramus High School

Sheldon Laboratory Systems Furniture at Ramsey High School

Sheldon Laboratory Systems Furniture at Verona High School

Title:  Designing Science Facilities for the National Science Education Standards

Author:  James T. Biehle, AIA

Download Designing Science Facilities for the NSES

Below is an excerpt from a published course advising on requirements for laboratory design and what factors to include in your decision-making when planning high school science classrooms.

Many high schools still plan their lab/classrooms for specific scientific disciplines: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and some sort of introductory science course. The specific requirements of each of these spaces can be different, but could, if desired, be accommodated in a common design. Investigations in which students work more independently are common and students are often required to design their own investigations to answer specific questions.

High school science teaching spaces should be primarily combination lab/classrooms with an assortment of auxiliary spaces to supplement these basic building blocks. Perimeter counters, base cabinets and sinks and wall cabinets are common; although, in some specific areas, fixed islands may be desired.

A maximum of 24 students should be housed in a lab/classroom and a minimum of 60 square feet per student provided for a total room size of 1,440 square feet. A shape closer to square than long and narrow provides more opportunities for flexible furniture arrangements and is particularly appropriate for Physics. Students often sit at tables large enough for two students; these tables should be sturdily constructed with epoxy resin or phenolic resin tops. Attention to leg attachment is critical since these tables will likely be moved often during their lifetime and legs may come loose welded metal or through-bolted wood construction. If the same tables are to serve dual usage as work surfaces for discussion and presentations, and as laboratory surfaces, they should be at laboratory height, or 36″. Providing two sets of tables, one for seated discussions and one for standing, laboratory work allows the class to move between discussion/presentation and investigations during the same class period without disrupting the laboratory table arrangement.

Physics lab/classrooms generally require fewer sinks and much more flexible space. High ceilings of 10 feet or more are desirable. A suspension apparatus capable of supporting at least 300 pounds per linear foot should hang beneath the ceiling to provide for the suspension of pendulums, and other devices. Longer, wider tables (seven feet by three feet) are useful since the larger surface can easily support, say, a 2-meter air track. The top material could be resin or wood butcher block (which lends itself more readily to C clamps).

Longer, movable tables should have at least one intermediate pair of legs which should be connected to the others by a stretcher frame construction. Some specifically designed physics tables have been employed to enhance a particular program. Physics requires a large number of electrical outlets placed around the room and in recessed floor boxes. DC power can most reasonably be provided using portable converters, plugged into a standard AC outlet. Provide lengths of wall space with no cabinets or markerboards for the installation of Atwood machines or similar apparatus. An adjacent student project space with power tools and the ability to construct devices discussed in physics can greatly enhance the engineering aspects of a physics course.

Biology lab/classrooms require a minimum of one large sink for every four students with both hot and cold water. A very useful perimeter sink station is called a “rinseaway” station and consists of a molded fiberglass top; 6 foot and 10 foot long models have one or two drain areas sloping to a single sink. A pull-out face shower can be used to wash off the sloping surface as well as an additional safety feature of the room. Glassware drying racks can be located on the wall above perimeter sink stations; make sure that the bottom of the drying rack is flush with the top of the backsplash of the sink so that water drains directly into the sink.

Tables for lecture and class discussion should be separate from tables for lab work so that students can easily move between each activity without disturbing set-ups on the lab tables. Lab table height can be an issue on

Biology as many prefer to sit down while using a microscope, although, from a safety standpoint, this is not necessarily a good thing. If most lab functions will be conducted seated, and the lower desk-height table is used for this function, the table should be 30″ high; if most laboratory functions will be conducted standing up, the tables should be at countertop height, or 36″.

Fixed teacher demonstration tables waste floor space and create a very inflexible area at the “front” of the classroom; many new facilities are providing a rolling demonstration surface consisting of a 72″ x 32″ resin countertop with various base cabinets for storage beneath. The entire assembly is mounted on four to six heavy duty casters so that the finished height is 36″, flush with perimeter countertops. When water or gas is needed for a demonstration, the unit can be wheeled to a perimeter sink or gas jet; otherwise it may be located anywhere within the lab/classroom. The 32″ dimension allows the unit to pass through a 36″ wide door into a prep room.

As electrical power is required for microscopes and other equipment, recessed floor boxes work well since they can be closed when not in use and the furniture arrangement can be very flexible. Although there are still some Biology lab/classrooms being constructed with a central gas system, use of gas is so minimal in most programs, that the expensive central system probably should be eliminated in favor of hot plates for most heating functions and small gas bottles for those limited usages where an open flame is required. Provide sufficient power for the number of hot plates to be used, probably at least two separate 20 amp circuits per lab/classroom.

Ventilation is also important in Biology. Some programs require at least one fume hood for demonstrations and group projects; if permanently located, this hood might have glass viewing panels on three sides and be located perpendicular to a wall. Portable fume hoods which recirculate air through a series of filters have also become more reliable in recent years and, although nearly as expensive as a fixed hood, can add flexibility to a layout. Providing a purge air system in the form of an exhaust fan which pulls air directly outdoors can help quickly clear the space of undesirable fumes. Do not rely on a fixed fume hood system for this purpose as they are generally not designed to draw that much air quickly.

Chemistry is the one area in which the move to a totally flexible lab space may be more difficult. The chemistry faculty should evaluate their need for fixed lab stations with respect to the use of corrosive materials that would require corrosion-resistant piping and an acid- dilution system and the need for a central gas system. Many chemistry programs are moving to a system in which the quantities of corrosive chemicals used by students are minimal and the student use of gas is also minimal. In these instances, a single, teacher demonstration station with an undercounter acid neutralization tank and gas jet could serve the needs of the entire class, thereby allowing perimeter sinks and movable tables for the student lab stations. Central acid neutralization systems with corrosion-resistant glass or polypropylene piping are expensive; any acid-dilution system requires periodic maintenance to replace the limestone chips within the dilution tank as they are consumed. Central gas systems are also expensive, requiring extensive piping and an emergency push-button shutoff system which interconnects with the electrical power system to immediately shut down the gas and power in a room. Using hot plates and/or butane cartridges for small burners eliminates this added expense and can increase safety within the chemistry lab/classroom.

Chemicals should NOT be stored within the lab/classroom, nor should they be stored within the prep room. A separate, lockable chemical storage room should be provided with its own ventilation system, providing approximately ten air changes per hour. Vents at the floor and at the ceiling should be included (see photo in “Safety” section) along with a “make-up air” system that brings in fresh air to replace the air that the exhaust system removes. Do not provide electrical outlets in the chemical storage room and have the switch for the room lighting mounted on the wall outside the room. If this room supplies chemicals for more than one lab/classroom, it should be centrally located and have a door to the corridor; this door should always be locked and accessible only by key.

Fume hoods are often used by students in chemistry and should be made accessible to as many students as possible. A “demonstration fume hood” which has view windows on three sides can be mounted perpendicular to a wall (see photo on previous page), thereby allowing a group of students to gather around a hood; at least five feet should be provided between adjacent hoods and hoods should not be placed near a door or window that might disturb the flow of air within the hood. Some recently constructed, movable fume hoods have impressed science safety experts with their ability to serve the needs of a school science program by recirculating air through a series of filters designed for the specific use of the program. First cost of these hoods may be as expensive as a fixed hood; however the life-cycle costs may be lower as the fan use may be significantly less and the major maintenance cost is in the periodic replacement of the filters. Flexibility of the lab/ classroom can be greatly enhanced if a large area is not dedicated to fixed hoods.

Please direct all inquiries with regards to school laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo info@longoinc.com.  To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo (nlongo@longoinc.com).  Nat Longo has been building school science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years.  Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked in NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA & RI.

Project:  Cedar Grove Memorial Middle School

Location:  Cedar Grove, NJ

Design Firm: DiCara Rubino Architects – Architect Project Profile

American School & University’s Interiors Showcase Link for Cedar Grove Middle School

Products:  Sheldon Wood Laboratory Casework, Height-Adjustable Axis Student Lab Tables, Epoxy Resin Counter Tops, Fume Hoods

Excerpt from the design firm’s website:

Addition, transformation of grammar school into “new” middle school

Please direct all inquiries with regards to school laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo info@longoinc.com.  To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo (nlongo@longoinc.com).  Nat Longo has been building school science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years.  Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked in NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA & RI.

Sheldon Laboratory Furniture by Longo in New Jersey Project Links:

Cresskill High School

Fair Lawn High School

Ho-Ho-Kus K-8 School

Leonia High School

Paramus High School

Verona High School

Location: Bronx, NY

Products: Labscape Metal Casework, Labscape Fume Hoods, Epoxy Resin Tops

Below is a brief video taken at the newly renovated chemistry lab.

Longo was honored to be a part of the construction team for this university chemistry lab renovation in Bronx, New York. If your college/university is considering renovating science classrooms or looking to building new lab space, contact the experts at Longo to assist with laboratory planning and science furniture selection. Science laboratory construction is costly and in today’s economy projects must come in on-time and within budge – utilize Longo’s experienced lab construction team to take your project from early planning to completion!

Please direct all inquiries with regards to university laboratory planning, science furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo info@longoinc.com. To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Nat Longo (nlongo@longoinc.com). Nat Longo has been building college science labs and commercial laboratories for over 25 years. Project lists are available from Longo if you wish to see where we have worked in NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA & RI.

Below I have included a description of the “lease purchase bidding” option run by the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission. I have also included frequently asked questions about “lease purchase bidding” regarding how it works, what can be purchased, and why it is a financially-sound tool available for school districts and municipalities…

Lease Purchase Bidding…What Is It?

Lease Purchase Bidding is a highly specialized area of purchasing; it incorporates a thorough understanding of public purchasing, tax-exempt finance, investment and commercial banking, vendors and suppliers, and how they all fit to optimally finance the particular equipment and projects needs of government entities. Doing it right can save tens of thousands of dollars in interest over the term of a lease purchase. Doing it effectively takes practice and experience.

Heading MRESC’s Lease Purchase Bidding/Financial Advisory Service is Dennis Balodis. He brings over thirty years experience in equipment finance with the last twenty dedicated to tax-exempt lease purchase financing for New Jersey school districts and governmental entities. Dennis developed the Lease Purchase Bidding model in 1994 and has advised and successfully conducted more of these than anyone else in New Jersey. He has long believed that this bidding service should be under the public umbrella to truly optimize the use of tax dollars and has joined the MRESC to provide this service.

To contact: Dennis R. Balodis
Phone: (732) 777-9848, ext. 6622
E-mail: DBalodis@mresc.k12.nj.us

Frequently Asked Questions:

Since both bond and lease purchase are tax-exempt, what is the difference between them?

A bond and a tax-exempt lease purchase both give their investors interest income which is tax free. A bond pledges the full faith and credit of a governmental entity. The bond contractually commits the governmental body to payments that will be made beyond the fiscal year; this guarantees that payments will be made from tax dollars for the life of the issue. Lease purchase payments are made from the current expense portion of the budget. The Lease Purchase Agreement is a series of self-renewing one year contracts and contains a “funding out clause” that will allow for a government to non-appropriate funds and get out of the lease. Although on paper this is all well and good, in reality, we are dealing with tax-exempt issues. An event of non-appropriation for a lease purchase is reported to the bond rating agencies which serves as a major black mark against that entity when they try to get a decent rate for a future bond issue.

Do I need to bid on lease purchase financing?

Lease Purchase must be bid!

“N.J.A.C. 5:34-3.2 Application of Bidding Requirements

(a) All multi-year contracts, including all multi-year leases and multi-year leases with option to purchase, which are authorized under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-15(7), 40A:11-15(15) or 18A:18A-42(f), and other multi-year contracts subject to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-15 and 18A:18A-42 for the procurement of goods or services shall be subject to competitive bidding if the cumulative amount to be expended during the duration of the multi-year lease or contract exceeds the threshold for competitive bidding for the contracting unit.”

What can be lease purchased?

Any equipment or project that is essential to the operation of a governmental entity can be lease purchased. This runs the gamut from computers, technology, musical instruments, buses, vehicles, grounds keeping equipment, to textbooks and roofs.

What cannot be lease purchased?

Disposable or consumable products with a life span of less than one year should not be included.

Can different types of equipment be mixed on the same lease purchase?

Yes, different types of equipment can be put on the same lease. In fact, it is advisable to do so. When bidding for a lease purchase, the objective is to obtain the utility of money and asking a lender to “loan” money to a governmental entity for a period of time. The financial institution is going to make a credit decision on the creditworthiness of the governmental entity and the types of equipment which is considered collateral for the “loan”. The balance of strong (readily re-marketable equipment such as buses, routers and switches, etc.) and soft (less re-marketable equipment such as software licenses, band uniforms, etc.) collateral can enhance the attractiveness of a lease purchase transaction.

Many equipment vendors have financing programs. Since the equipment is purchased off Cooperative Pricing, WSCA, State Contract or other purchasing vehicle, can’t I use their programs?

First, the obvious answer is “no”, since financing is not bid as a separate item. Second, is common sense, when equipment or projects are cooperatively bid, the goal is to get the best volume pricing for the products obtainable in the market. The higher the volume, the cheaper it is to produce. Lease purchase, however, is an individualized “loan” to a governmental entity based upon creditworthiness types of collateral and the size of the individual transaction. If lease purchase was offered as a line item on a bid, the rate offered would have to reflect the weakest credit and the smallest transaction. Unlike commercial transactions, the tax-exempt lease purchase cannot legally be supported by a vendor because it would nullify the tax-exempt status.

Why use lease purchase financing?

A lease purchase is an important financial tool that can be effectively used to limit and cushion the tax impact of equipment and project acquisitions. Each governmental entity has specific and unique fiscal needs. The goal of a well written lease purchase bid is to structure a repayment plan that meets those unique needs while best portraying the entity to the bidding community.

Who is the bidding community?

When shopping for money, you go to the banks and financial institutions that are direct lenders. We believe that the banking community that wants to do business with a governmental entity is the primary target market for lease purchase bids.

Since manufacturers know their products, why can’t they give the best interest rates?

This is tax-exempt finance, the driving force behind the lower interest rates are the ability to shelter income taxes. The tax code only allows a manufacturer to deduct a small portion of the sales price of their goods when lease purchased. Most of the “captive” vendor finance programs are run by banks and finance companies that can take full advantage of the tax deduction. Since these financial companies are brought in by their vendors, there is limited competition; lack of competition equates to higher rates.

Can different equipment that will be delivered, accepted, and paid for over a period of time be put on the same lease purchase?

We are proponents of aggregating all of your financing needs of a year into one lease purchase. The vendors who sell equipment deserve to be paid when their equipment is delivered. To facilitate multiple payments over a period of time, we structure the lease purchase to be funded into an interest bearing escrow account. This permits you to release a series of payments to your vendors when the different deliveries are made and earn interest income from the escrow account.