Design experiment: the future of laboratories

In contrast to life sciences laboratories—where the range of activities and needs can be reasonably predicted, and the type of flexibility can be anticipated—project-based physics and engineering laboratory environments must speculate based on the trajectory of the science. In order to deliver a facility that will meet the needs of today’s known programs and provide future flexibility, we must first dive into the drivers of the science and engineering.

At IERC, this process was based on programming around the “scientific use cases,” of project types that were planned on a 20-year horizon. The IERC is the first building at Fermilab that intentionally brings together multiple departments and capabilities to foster a cross-departmental and cross-divisional collaboration platform. From this perspective, a broad look at current needs and future potential created a strong set of guiding principles for the design of this unique facility.

Rather than embracing the idea of flexibility—attempting to anticipate every future need and incorporating features that meet these speculative needs—the IERC takes a markedly different approach in providing an adaptable framework that removes obstacles to future augmentation as new research and development needs emerge. In other words, the IERC design approach leaves functional placeholders and space to accommodate future adaptation to needs when they can be clearly defined, rather than guessing about future uses.

During the course of reviewing over 400 use-cases and determining the types of spatial support that projects might need—such as clean-class requirements, assembly capabilities, fabrication, equipment, and services—the design team began to analyze the data to identify commonalities and distinct differences in capabilities. Based on the spectrum of use-case potential needs, the team developed a modular approach to space allocation and building systems. The outcome was a program that included clean-class fabrication space or project labs, core instrumentation and tool laboratories, and function-specific electronic fabrication laboratories as well as adaptable dry-bench lab space for small electronic design and fabrication.

The ground level of the IERC has been designed to facilitate fabrication for large-scale project needs, expressed in a series of project laboratories. Overhead cranes were provided to utilize these spaces for the fabrication, assembly, and movement of large-scale detectors and vessels – such as dilution refrigerators. Each project laboratory is designed with utility service panels in the perimeter walls providing power, data, compressed air, nitrogen, and system-process chilled water on an 11’-0” module. Service distribution trenches are provided in each laboratory to enhance delivery to equipment, instrumentation, and workbenches, all while eliminating tripping hazards and allowing the end-users to readily access services on an as-needed basis.

While the true test of this level of the adaptable design and planning will come when the IERC opens in 2022, its approach to adaptability has already been tested during the design process. After the preliminary design phase of the project, the project team learned of significant programmatic changes to accommodate new DUNE-related initiatives and emerging technology developments—which required little to no re-design of the building. Some simple re-configuration of utility requirements and specific instrumentation accommodation met the new program needs, underscoring the value of this adaptable approach and its potential to support generations of unknown research needs.

The project team developed a toolset of “core capabilities” to support the development of future projects and eliminate needless duplication of resources. Programmatically, this was aptly named “Shared Core Lab” and provides the ability to support common needs across the spectrum of project labs, such as coordinate measuring machines, wafer fabrication tools, and similar commonly shared equipment assets. To support the widest range of known requirements today, these tools are housed in an ISO-7 clean-class environment that is future upgradable to ISO-5.

While the science and engineering capabilities of the IERC are of paramount importance, the new laboratory’s location on FNAL’s campus also required careful aesthetic design consideration and deference to Fermilab’s iconic Wilson Hall. Designed by Fermilab’s first director, Robert Rathbun Wilson, Wilson Hall’s brutalist design reaches to the sky with a soaring form and clean modern lines, establishing a strong architectural context. Embracing the proportions of Wilson Hall and incorporating a complimentary design response—while maintaining its own presence—was at the heart of our aesthetic design challenge. The end- result is a building that takes strong cues from Wilson Hall but maintains its own identity and presence on campus, marking a new direction for Fermilab.

Today’s researchers, especially at Fermilab, are working to deepen humankind’s understanding of the universe so that scientific discovery can advance our global society. Buildings like IERC have the potential to set an example for how architecture—and specifically, the thoughtful design of physical spaces for scientific inquiry—might support and advance these altruistic goals.