Reinventing Teaching Laboratories at Community Colleges

Toni Loiacano, LEED® AP, DSA Architects, a member of SHW Group

This poster will show examples of community college teaching projects that utilize:

• Laboratories and Sustainability
  • Utilizing the concept of sustainability holistically in laboratories, balancing initial costs and life cycle costs.
  • Using efficient laboratory planning: addressing real needs and providing future expansion.
  • Installing daylighting in laboratories and classrooms.
  • Selecting material carefully.
  • Using integral energy-efficient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design.
  • Addressing the exterior landscape as a sustainable, renewable laboratory.
• Laboratory Renovation
  • Maximizing cost efficiency in laboratory design and planning.
  • Maximizing reuse and flexibility of existing laboratory facility.
• Laboratory Planning
  • Putting science on display, using unique aesthetics that showcase laboratories.
  • Using architectural design to reflect the integration of laboratory, classrooms, and collaborative space, enhancing the learning environment, and facilitating constructivist curriculum.

Biography:

Toni Loiacano has planned and programmed many higher education facilities. Her current programming projects include science laboratories at: College of Education and Human Sciences; Central Michigan University Science Center; North Central Michigan College School of Engineering; Midwestern State University Center for Excellence in Bioengineering and Life Sciences; Kettering University Southeast Expansion; Tarrant County Community College District University Center; Lansing Community College Biomedical Technology Center; Schoolcraft College Center for Health Professions; Jackson Community College Academic Building Addition/Renovation; and Bryn Mawr College.

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