The exciting concept of the “Innovation District” project came directly out of the master planning efforts that Perspectus had recently completed with the Clinic. The master plan aimed to reorganize and rescale all existing research labs within the Lerner Research Institute (LRI), with the goal of relocating related research groups into a more adjacent configuration, thus increasing collaboration. Working through the master plan determined a clear need for additional research space.
LRI’s main building has three distinct wings, one focused on education, and two housing research labs. This project included the conversion of two levels of existing academic (library) space into research laboratories and addressed infrastructure upgrades to ensure proper mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technological function in every laboratory and administrative space.
Two main design objectives were identified early in the process. The first was the intention to put “Science on Display”. The LRI staff immediately recognized the opportunity to show off the cutting-edge research activities taking place within the Institute, which is ideally located on the Cleveland Clinic Skyway circulation path. The NA3 space was developed as open wet labs and will house the institutes Cleveland Clinic Center for Therapeutics Discovery. This is the core lab facility and will be the focal point of “Science on Display”.
The second design objective was to provide the proper ratio of research lab bench to shared communal lab space. Communal lab space in this case includes controlled environment labs, tissue culture rooms, bio-safety level 2 (BSL-2) labs, microscopy areas and lab support services.
The Perspectus team worked closely with not only the Clinic design team, but also the individual researchers, to establish standardized lab modules that allow for continued flexibility and adaptation.