Interview Excerpt From Nat Longo: Laboratory Renovation Or New Construction?
Nat Longo has been designing and building laboratory spaces for over 25 years in both the private school and commercial sectors. Below is some information extracted from a lab meeting Nat has recently had with a private school administrator considering laboratory space updates/renovations for Summer 2011. The school’s current science labs were built in 1965.
In an effort to improve high school science education standards & scores, it is important to have the proper learing environments and training facilities available – all of this requires planning ahead to create educationally-correct teaching spaces for the sciences.
In some instances, changes needed to better support academic programs may just require the purchasing of new equipment, replacing outdated furniture. However, most changes will require a more in-depth review of the facility and dictate that construction/renovation services are necessary.
In anticipation of renovating a laboratory space or building a new science wing, guidelines must be agreed upon (and followed) to ensure that the end product will deliver satisfactory results. There is rarely a second chance to correct mistakes. The time spent in the planning process is an excellent investment for any lab renovation project, regardless of size.
Getting started, it is recommended that a planning committee be formed representing both teachers and administrators. This is necessary to define project assumptions – and they should reflect the mission statement of the school, the vision for the future of the school and the goals of the science department.
There are important questions that must be answered before a lab space can be designed.
Interested to learn more about renovating science lab rooms? Want to speak to Nat Longo directly about your science lab and the options available to you regarding lab design, purchasing new furniture, etc.?
Please direct all inquiries with regards to laboratory planning, furniture and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo (info@longoinc.com). To request a consultant & laboratory space evaluation, email Anthony Stellatos (anthonys@longoinc.com).
Longo offers laboratory planning, budget and full turnkey services to industrial/commercial clients and private schools in New Jersey (Bergen-Passaic-Essex-Hudson-Morris Counties), New York (Westchester-Rockland-Dutchess-Putnam-Orange Counties) and Connecticut (Fairfield County). Please contact us for your laboratory design and furniture requirements (info@longoinc.com).
