SUPPORT SPACE

Depending on your program, various support spaces are needed in addition to the science laboratory and discussion area. These space types include such rooms as prep room, storage room, student project lab, and teachers’ office. Other types of support commonly required include greenhouses, special instrumentation spaces, or separate chemical storage rooms.

Prep and Storage Rooms

A prep room is located adjacent to the prototypical lab. A glass view panel connects the two spaces so that the teacher can have visual control from one space to the other. Often a prep room is situated between two labs to serve both. Typical prep rooms contain a fume hood, sink, and refrigerator in addition to work counters and storage.

The prototypical lab requires storage space in addition to that which is provided within the lab and prep room. This function can be in a separate space or it can be combined with the prep room.

		Prep Room Storage and work space along walls. Width: 24 FT Length: 13 FT Area: 300 NASF
		Storage Room Storage and work space along walls. Width: 24 FT Length: 11 FT Area: 252 NASF
		Prep/Storage Room Storage and work space along walls with moveable cabinets and carts in center. Width: 24 FT Length: 21 FT Area: 504 NASF

Student Project Lab

Some programs require a dedicated student project lab. The space shown is sized for 8 students to work at one time with access to individual laptop computers as well as 2 desktop computer stations. A possible fume hood is also indicated. The size of the lab is 700 NSF. Project work could occur in the teaching laboratory. Unless the lab were sized accordingly, however, the student would be limited to projects that could be dismantled and stored during scheduled class times.

		Double-sided island benches for four students with computer stations along walls. Width: 24 FT Length: 24 FT Area: 576 NASF NASF/Station: 24 NASF

Teachers’ Office

Providing offices for teachers has become a common procedure. A teacher needs a place to work and meet with students and colleagues. Offices are especially critical when labs are assigned to more than one teacher, rather than being the teacher’s home base. A shared office, for 6 teachers, is shown in the diagrams. Each teacher has a desk, a side chair, book shelving, and a file cabinet.

		Four desks clustered and two desks facing wall. Bookshelves, files, and coat storage along other wall, Width: 24 FT Length: 26 FT Area: 624 NASF NASF/Station: 26 NASF