The Life Science Laboratories (LSL), a 310,000 gross square foot sustainably designed edifice situated on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, serves to invigorate scientific and engineering endeavors and facilitate pioneering discoveries. The design strategy prioritized adaptable and resilient wet, damp, and dry laboratories conducive to interdisciplinary collaboration among various scientific disciplines, including Physics, Engineering, Biology, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, and Chemistry.

The LSL accommodates approximately 64 faculty members, 512 researchers, and 37 staff personnel upon full outfitting. The provision of shell space enabled the University to recruit new faculty, cultivate partnerships with industry leaders, and accommodate new technologies. The prompt securing of funding for the shell space wing fit-out within months of project completion underscores the project's initial success.

Furthermore, the LSL fosters community engagement through features such as glazed interior partitions that provide views of ongoing scientific activity. The edifice's curvilinear design and judicious utilization of materials integrate it seamlessly into the campus environment while simultaneously introducing a renewed dynamism.

Sustainability constituted a primary objective, leading to strategies, such as open laboratories, low-flow fume hoods, energy recovery air handling units, facade optimization, innovative heat exchangers, on-site water storage, and a continuous air monitoring system. These measures culminated in a 36.7% reduction in projected site energy consumption.

The LSL epitomizes the University's commitment to becoming a preeminent research institution through the growth of enrollment, faculty, and research capacity. The enthusiasm and financial support demonstrated for its interdisciplinary research model indicate its preliminary success in realizing this objective.

For this project, William F. Wilson, FAIA was principal in charge at Wilson Architects. He was the PIC from the start of the project to occupancy. Throughout all project phases, from pre-design, budgeting and programming to schematic design, design development, and the completion of Construction Documents, he led the team. See articles about this project as well as more information on the following links: