R & D articles from November 2003

R & D archives from November 2003

R&D and the unemployed.(Editorial)
November 1, 2003... A recent report by Alliance Capital Management L.P., New York, refutes the popular belief that American manufacturing jobs are being replaced by manufacturing jobs in China and elsewhere in Asia. Contrary to that belief, manufacturing...

System preserves email integrity.(Data Management & Analysis)
November 1, 2003... The first integrated, multi-layer security solution that promises to safeguard network-level email against all standard breaches has been launched by Nokia, Mountain View, Calif. Nokia Message Protector, version 1.3, examines, then filters out...

Algorithm encourages innovation.(Data Management & Analysis)
November 1, 2003... Projects in computational chemistry and physics have always been hampered by the generation of computer codes needed for research. Consuming weeks to months of work, these algorithms require scientists to take on the additional role of computer...

Java use spreads.(Data Management & Analysis)
November 1, 2003... Number of Embedded Devices Shipping with Java (Thousands) 2003 74,902 2004 177,281 2005 300,779 2006 424,759 2007 600,959 Source: Venture Development Corp. ...

Protein drugs prosper.(Data Management & Analysis)
November 1, 2003... One of the fastest growing sectors in pharmaceuticals involves protein drugs. Increasing at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 12.2%, the market for these medications is expected to rise from $40 billion in 2003 to $71 billion in 2008. The...

Government support of innovation.(Data Management & Analysis)
November 1, 2003... One of the Federal government's few formal interagency enterprises, the Networking and Information Technology R&D (NITRD) program, is the collaborative framework of numerous federal agencies that conduct fundamental R&D in advanced networks,...

New facility houses crucial radiation research.(Laboratory Design)
November 1, 2003... NASA's new Space Radiation Laboratory, located at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, N.Y., is expected to become a hub for radiobiology research for space flight programs. The $34 million lab is expected to be home to about 80...

Engineers bring a new spinal simulator to market.(Life Science)
November 1, 2003... Spinal surgeries and the physicians who conduct them look to engineers for solutions to the need for real-time, accurate representations of the spine and its behavior. A team from EnduraTEC Systems Corp., Minneapolis, Minn., will soon be...

Facilitating global R&D.(Bulletin)
November 1, 2003... The National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) is answering the call of many small- to mid-sized companies looking to export their goods on a global scale by launching the NTTC Export Service Center. This center, which is available on their...

Detecting those hard to reach defects.(Laboratory Equipment)
November 1, 2003... Commercial, academic, and government labs may benefit from a system recently launched by Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. The purpose of the embedded sensor system for paint and nun-metallic coating degradation is to be able to...

Electronic imaging takes the stage.(Upcoming Conferences & Events)(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... The Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T) along with the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) will be hosting the 16th annual Symposium on Electronic Imaging: Science and Technology, at the San Jose Convention...

Advancing GC/MS.(Analytical Instruments)
November 1, 2003... Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, Calif., has unveiled a new tool for GC/MS users. The 5973 inert mass selective detector (MSD), is marketed as the first GCMS system with a solid inert ion source detector, yielding a three-fold improvement in...

White-hot ceramics.(Materials)
November 1, 2003... How to protect the hottest of hot materials? The answer lies in the formulation. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M., have developed a new type of ceramic to combat ultra-high temperatures up to 2000[degrees] C. The...

3-D laptops realized.(Lasers & Optics)
November 1, 2003... Two months ago, we reported on research teams at the Univ. of Toronto experimenting with cellophane films to create 3-D laptop screens. Now Sharp Systems America has unveiled their iteration on 3-D technology by releasing the Actius RD3D. The...

Something for electron microscopists.(Microscopy)
November 1, 2003... Pleasanton, Calif.,-based Gatan Inc., has launched a new energy filter to be used in conjunction with their existing software suite. The GIF Tridiem, demonstrated at the 2003 Microscopy and Microscopy Analysis conference, incorporates the...

The birth of nanosprings.(Micro/Nano Technology)
November 1, 2003... In 2001, research conducted by a team led by Zhong Wang at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, yielded the creation of "nanobelts," chemically pure, structurally uniform structures made out of semiconductor oxides which had the...

GE makes its move on Amersham.(Pharmaceutical)
November 1, 2003... General Electric (GE), Fairfield, Conn., and Amersham PLC, Buckinghamshire, U.K., recently announced that GE will acquire the life science giant and integrate its core technologies with GE Medical to form the new GE Healthcare Technologies...

Genome-based ENCODE project underway.(Bulletin)
November 1, 2003... The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) announced the first grants in a multi-year program built upon the existing knowledge of the human genome. The Encyclopedia of DNA--or ENCODE project--aims to identify and locate all...

Fill 'er up--car and home.(Test & Measurement)
November 1, 2003... A prototype "gas" station has successfully been demonstrated in the field at Honda's R&D center in Torrance, Calif. The Home Energy Station (HES), co-developed by Honda and Plug Power Inc., Latham, N.Y., is actually a hydrogen refueling system...

New study shows increased spending for semicon and nanotech.(Vacuum/Thin Films)
November 1, 2003... The money trail within the semiconductor capital equipment and metrology tool markets seems to be pointing upward, according to a recent report. The study, conducted by TheInfoPro and Lux Capital, both of New York, N.Y., queried close to 50...

Nanotech innovations hinge on measurement technology and close alliances.(Innovation Insider)
November 1, 2003... Nanotechnology has the potential to improve our quality of life in diverse ways, such as faster electronics, huge memory/storage capacities for PCs, cheaper energy through more efficient energy conversion, and improved security through the...

IBM looking to aid companies towards compliance.(Regulatory Update)
November 1, 2003... IBM, Armonk, N.Y., has unveiled a line of service initiatives intended to provide a holistic approach to compliancy. Federal rules, such as 21 CFR Part II, HIPAA, and the U.S. Patriot Act, are requiring companies to enlist systems that address...

USDA creates new regulatory program.(Regulatory Update)
November 1, 2003... A new biotech compliancy division has been launched by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The new enforcement unit, which will be under the Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) program, is...

The Genome master: Eric Lander has a very simple goal in life--all he wants is to know everything there is to know about the human genome. And he believes he can do it.(2003 Scientist of the Year)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... Eric Steven Lander was educated as a mathematician, taught managerial economics at the Harvard School of Business for nine years, currently teaches undergraduate biology at MIT, and founded and now directs the world's preeminent Center for...

Integrated FIB/SEM systems streamline throughput; the fusing of focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope technologies into one tool has expedited subsurface defect review and characterization in materials research. Additionally, increased automation and ease-of-use are promoting the use of FIB/SEM workstations.(Keywords)
November 1, 2003... Prior to the creation of integrated focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope (FIB/ SEM) systems, the detection and characterization of subsurface defects in materials posed a major obstacle. Without FIB, defect analysis below the surface...

Government labs see shifting landscapes: energy, recruitment, homeland security, budgeting, collaboration, and tech transfer are just a few of the issues that government-funded research labs work to satisfy.(CEO Roundtable)
November 1, 2003... One of the first questions asked at R&D Magazine's fifth annual CEO roundtable was "Is R&D (at your labs) in transition?" While it wasn't meant to be a trick question, one of the first responses was that R&D is always in transition--that's...

General areas of expertise: independent research and development organizations.
November 1, 2003... General Areas of Expertise Independent Research and Development Organizations Advanced computers and Advanced Organization ...

Los Alamos National Laboratory.(Corporate Profile)
November 1, 2003... The Laboratory Science is the cornerstone that supports our core national security mission. We develop and apply science and technology to ensure the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; to reduce the threat of weapons of...

CARISS--compact material analysis device finds an audience in sport and space.(Case Study)
November 1, 2003... While many of the devices and technologies generated today are designed with an expressed purpose there are occasions where a device can find use for a different set of problems and in different kinds of environments. This is the case of the...

Making Li batteries more consumer friendly.(Case Study)
November 1, 2003... Lithium batteries have the highest power density of any commercially available battery. A comparable lithium battery has approximately four times the power density of a nickel metal hydride battery and five times the power density of an...

NASA Glenn Research Center: the Glenn Research Center is NASA's premier center for new aeropropulsion technologies, aerospace power, microgravity science, electric propulsion, and communications technologies for aeronautics, space, and aerospace applications.(Corporate Profile)
November 1, 2003... New Direction Dr. Julian M. Earls began his tenure as Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Glenn Research Center (GRC) at Lewis Field on October 1, 2003. As Director, Dr. Earls is responsible for planning,...

Fibers electrospun from waste.(Academic Emerging Technologies)
November 1, 2003... Each year in the US, twenty million bales of fiber (cellulose) are generated when cotton is made into clothes or fabric. This fiber is mainly thrown away or turned into low-value commodities, such as yarns and cotton batting. However, new...

Switch boosts wireless reception.(Industrial Emerging Technologies)
November 1, 2003... A 3-D switch that promises to provide superior reception quality in wireless communication devices and sensing tools, while saving energy and prolonging operating time is currently being developed. Meso-MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) is...

Breakthrough chip design.(Eureka Emerging Technologies)
November 1, 2003... The wireless market continues to evolve, generating instruments that require better performance and less power consumption. To aid in that evolution is a revolutionary chip designed by IBM, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., which promises to reduce power...

Keithley's 2004 catalog.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... Keithley's 2004 catalog offers details and specifications on the company's general-purpose and sensitive sourcing and measurement products, DC and broadband switching, data acquisition solutions, semiconductor test systems, and optoelectronics...

Industrial excimer laser.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... The NOVATEX industrial excimer laser from Lambda Physik USA Inc. offers up to 2 kHz repetition rate at 248 nm (KrF) or 193 nm (ArF) wavelengths. The stabilized average power lot ArF is specified with 12W, and 32W for KrF. The NOVATEX is...

Automatic Particle Sizer.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... The AccuSizer APS Automatic Particle Sizer from Particle Sizing is a fully automated single particle optical sizer (SPOS) designed for the research and/or quality control laboratory. An automated sample injection system and easy-to-use windows...

New ProLine process mass spectrometer.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... AMETEK Process Instruments has added the ProLine Series of compact, bench-top mass spectrometers to its industry-leading line of process mass spectrometers and analyzers. The ProLine Series offers features and performance usually associated...

Data acquisition software delivers 100 times increase in performance.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... National Instruments announces the release of NI-DAQ 7, the next generation of the industry-leading data acquisition (DAQ) driver software. With NI-DAQ 7 and LabVIEW 7 Express, engineers can perform simultaneous operations 100 to 1,000 times...

0S950 Series: digital infrared scanner.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... Omega Engineering's OS950 Series is designed specifically for the highest possible accuracy. It is the only infrared instrument which is certified with NIST-traceable accuracy on real surfaces of unknown emissivity, while remaining completely...

National Instruments offers price reduction for data logger package.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... Engineers, scientists and technicians now can take measurements with no programming required and get up and running quickly starting at $995--and up to 50% price reduction--with a special offer from National Instruments. NI continues its...

Scientific Data Management System.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... The NuGenesis Scientific Data Management System (SDMS) is a Web-based platform for preservation and management of scientific data, integrating the collaborative flow of information through existing applications and IT infrastructure. We provide...

Turn-key applicated GC solutions.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... Antek Instruments offers fully applicated, turn-key GC solutions spanning over 250 standard and customized applications. Antek's line includes a selection of GCs, detectors, sampling devices, and software applications. Systems span all standard...

Thin pressure sensor for process control and calibration.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... Pressurex, a tactile force indicating sensor film from Sensor Products Inc., is useful in assessing compression magnitude and distribution between any two mating or impacting surfaces. Pressurex is a non-destructive testing (NDT) concept that...

MATRIXx control design and simulation software.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... National Instruments announces the release of MATRIXx 6.3, the latest version of its control design and simulation software suite. Built on MATRIXx 6.2 architecture and both backward and forward compatible, the software now runs under the most...

National Instruments releases LabVIEW 7 Express.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... LabVIEW 7 Express from National Instruments is a major upgrade to the entire family of LabVIEW graphical development products. A culmination of four years of engineering effort, LabVIEW 7 Express dramatically simplifies the creation of...

NitroPlex zero-tolerance dry nitrogen cabinet.(Product Review)
November 1, 2003... Terra Universal's NitroPlex provides low-humidity storage for extremely moisture-sensitive materials. This multi-compartment cabinet incorporates an RH monitor/control module in each chamber to increase purge efficiency and cut nitrogen cost....

LCPM 3000 liquid crystal Polarimeter.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... The Meadowlark LCPM 3000 Polarimeter measures and graphically displays polarization state on a Poincare sphere, polarization ellipse, or running chart. Two models use proprietary algorithms to measure either over the range of 450 nm to 1100 nm...

High Voltage Sequencer.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... The HVS448 High Voltage Sequencer from LabSmith, Inc. provides precise control of MEMS and microfluidics experiments. Each of the HVS448's eight channels function as high voltage supplies and precision current and voltage sensors. Sequencing...

High precision ball and crossed roller slides, guides and tables.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... The new Nordex Design Guide 2004 offers 500 new products including Precision Miniature, Sub-miniature and Standard Ball Slides and assemblies, Slide Guides, Crossed Roller Slides, Assemblies, and Gold Motion Series Tables. Factory preloading to...

Subminiature connectors.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... PAVE Technology offers a line of hermetically sealed high density, micro D-subminiature connectors with up to 102 #25 contacts for vacuums up to [10.sup.-8] Torr. Either dual sided connectors (photo) designs or single sided connector with wire...

Fast throttling gate valves for vacuum pressure control.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... Thermo Vacuum Generators and Nor-Cal jointly introduce their SoftShut throttling gate valves with Intellisys control, providing fast and accurate pressure control with leak tight sealing over a broad pressure range. Nor-Cal's Intellisys...

A guide to laboratory design and construction.
November 1, 2003... WANT TO BUILD A NEW LAB OR RENOVATE YOUR EXISTING LAB? SINCE THIS IS SOMEthing that most lab personnel only get involved in two or three times in their careers, just knowing where to start can be confusing, intimidating, traumatic,...

How to be a great user representative: do you have what it takes to provide input for the design of a new building? Good researchers and good user reps often share similar qualities..(Chapter 1: getting started)
November 1, 2003... User representatives are the primary link between the designers and the functional requirements of a laboratory project. They provide the expertise that the design team needs to shape the general planning parameters. The best user...

Tips for choosing the best design team: a five-step approach to picking the right architects for your job.(Chapter 1: getting started)
November 1, 2003... Few decisions will contribute more to the ultimate success or failure of your laboratory building project than the selection of the architect. The architect normally leads the multidisciplinary project team of engineering and specialty...

The five 'Ds' of lab programming; deciding what kind of new or renovated R&D facility your organization really needs.(Chapter 1: getting started)
November 1, 2003... Programming is the foundation for designing a new laboratory facility. At no other phase of a project do the participants have as much ability to effectively influence and determine its outcome. Programming may be the first opportunity for...

Finding the right laboratory location; site selection demands an analysis of a complex matrix of factors, tailored to each organization's unique priorities.(Chapter 2: sites and budgets)
November 1, 2003... Selecting a new R&D site is an optimistic gesture, The challenge is to align sources and data for approval by the organization's executive committee. How can it be done, and what are key site selection factors to consider? The decision to...

Current construction costs for new U.S. lab facilities; economic factors put upward pressures on costs nationwide, but significant variations occur by lab type and region.(Chapter 2: sites and budgets)
November 1, 2003... HLW International LLR New York, N.Y., and its cost-estimating consultant, Accu-Cost Inc., have been publishing lab construction and renovation cost reports annually since 1994. Costs for new labs--an extremely complex building type--have risen...

Costs for renovations and non-domestic new construction; renovation costs continue to rise. while costs in international markets vary widely.(Chapter 2: sites and budgets)
November 1, 2003... HLW International LLP, New York, N.Y., and its cost-estimating consultant, Accu-Cost Inc., have been publishing lab construction and renovation cost reports annually since 1994. The article on page 17 looks at new construction in domestic...

Lab floorplans impact space, cost efficiencies: a guide to calculating the efficiency of various common lab plan layouts.(Chapter 3: cost control tools)
November 1, 2003... Many important decisions must be made when programming and designing a new research laboratory. As with many complex endeavors, the early decisions set a course for the project. The trick is to set a reasonable course. Often, designers...

Value engineering: tactics and pitfalls: front-end savings and long-term costs are the key issues in streamlining your construction budget through a detailed value analysis.(Chapter 3: cost control tools)
November 1, 2003... Value engineering is an activity that has evolved very recently in the long history of building construction. As recently as 40 years ago, buildings were simply designed by architects and then built by the lowest bidder. If all the bids came in...

Models, mockups clarify lab design options: forward-thinking designers use new technology to turn dreams into 3-D decision-making tools.(Chapter 3: cost control tools)
November 1, 2003... In planning laboratories, data collection is critical. What are the lab users' minimum requirements and most far-reaching goals? Once data are gathered, the laboratory planners and designers must visualize, or bring into three dimensions, what...

Lab ventilation controls--understanding your options; sorting out the best way to ventilate your labs and fume hoods can be confusing. Here's a common-sense guide to the most basic issues.(Chapter 4: HVAC and utilities)
November 1, 2003... Choosing the right ventilation controls is crucial to the safety and efficiency of your lab facility. First costs and operating costs are important, but they must De balanced against the use of the ventilation system as a protective system to...

Exhaust ductwork: to manifold or not to manifold? Factors governing the choice of dedicated fume hood exhaust vs. combined exhaust.(Chapter 4: HVAC and utilities)
November 1, 2003... Until relatively recently in the history of laboratory design, each fume hood in a lab building was served by its own independent exhaust ductwork and fan. Room air would be exhausted through a completely separate system. This paradigm led to a...

Fume hoods: conventional choices, new options; design of laboratory exhaust equipment is advancing rapidly as vendors strive to think "outside the box" while keeping safety as a top priority.(Chapter 4: HVAC and utilities)
November 1, 2003... Laboratory fume hoods are evolving into more sophisticated containment devices than ever before. Selecting the correct fume hood to match the application is no longer the exclusive domain of the researcher, the engineer, or the laboratory...

High-purity water system design: Safeguard the accuracy of your research results with a well-designed pure water system.(Chapter 4: HVAC and utilities)
November 1, 2003... Water is virtually universal in labs. Beginning with the programming phase, the design team should devote considerable attention to identifying the facility's water needs in terms of both quantity and quality. Each space will have differing...

Gas systems: a range of options: how to create an efficient infrastructure for laboratory gases.(Chapter 4: HVAC an utilities)
November 1, 2003... Compressed gases require a high level of specification during the design phase of any lab project, as well as meticulous coordination between the trades during construction and strict maintenance of guidelines for operation. Functional...

Making a case for flexible lab design: chose the right level of casework adaptability for the way you use your facility, now and in the future.(Chapter 5: casework, floors, lighting)
November 1, 2003... As the world continues to change on what seems like a daily basis, the challenges of designing spaces to support the people who make technology possible also grow by leaps and bounds. In the design world, trends tend to follow technology, and...

Floor finishes for laboratories: choose from a broad variety of options to create the most efficient and economical surfaces.(Chapter 5: casework, floors, lighting)
November 1, 2003... Successful laboratory design depends on a full understanding of the range of functions and activities within the particular lab. This understanding drives every aspect of design, including the selection of floor finishes. The choice of finishes...

Lighting considerations in lab planning and design; the right choice of fixtures and controls can significantly improve user productivity while reducing operating expenses.(Chapter 5: casework, floors, lighting)
November 1, 2003... Recent studies have shown that up to half of all the electricity used in modern commercial buildings is for lighting. The situation is even more pronounced for laboratories because their lighting levels are at least twice that of office...

Planning to avoid obsolescence: examine your choices carefully to ensure that your new or renovated lab remains adaptable for decades to come.(Chapter 6: design basics & trends)
November 1, 2003... Anyone who has followed R&D Magazine's Lab of the Year competition in recent years, and/or is a regular reader of Laboratory Design newsletter, must be aware of the emphasis design teams are placing on architecture rather than functional or...

The open lab: is it right for you? Labs without walls can offer great advantages, but they're not right for every research group or organization.(Chapter 6: design basics & trends)
November 1, 2003... One of the first decisions required in the design of new or renovated laboratory space is the size of the primary research lab. This decision affects not only the layout of the floor plan, but also the total net [ft.sup.2] required in the...

Beyond the atrium: strategies for fostering collaboration in research facilities.(Chapter 6: design basics & trends)
November 1, 2003... Chipkin, CEO of Gaithersburg, Md., firm Psychiatric Genomics, is among a growing number o technology-industry executives who recognize the vital importance of collaboration between scientists in a research organization. Scientific innovation...

Guides for "greening" your lab; LEED and the Labs21 EPC are key tools for improving the sustainability and energy efficiency of new or renovated facility projects.(Chapter 6: design basics & travels)
November 1, 2003... Laboratories present a unique challenge for sustainable design because of their intense energy use, health and safety requirements, and complex environmental systems. However, a growing public awareness of sustainable design and construction...

How to improve lab security; security and communication systems within a lab building are imperative. Here are a few key items to consider.(Chapter 6: design basics & trends)
November 1, 2003... Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, virtually all building owners have become extremely sensitive regarding building security. Some labs might indeed present terrorist targets (for instance, government labs conducting advanced...

Chemical inventory management tips: careful planning of chemical hazard areas can lower your construction costs and improve building efficiency and safety.(Chapter 6: design basics & trends)
November 1, 2003... Chemical processing firms, from pharmaceutical companies to biotech manufacturers, routinely lease or buy space formerly used as warehouses and convert it into manufacturing space. The mere presence of hazardous chemical inventory, however,...

Biological safety labs: an introduction; a recent increase in biological threats and perceived risks is driving construction of new BSL facilities.(Chapter 7: specialty labs)
November 1, 2003... Laboratories differ from other workplace building types in that a primary purpose, in addition to those in common with all work environments, is to support investigations with hazardous materials. Biological labs are designed to facilitate work...

A user's guide to planning nanotech labs: meticulous early stage planning is required to create facilities that combine traditional research with semiconductor fabrication technology.(Chapter 7: specialty labs)
November 1, 2003... Nanotechnology develops systems that are formed through the controlled integration of nanoscale components. A facility dedicated to nanosystems research must be multifaceted and flexible. Fundamentally, nanotech research requires a structure...

Trends in vivarium planning: changes in animal models for research push design teams and users in new directions.(Chapter 7: specialty labs)
November 1, 2003... The past 10 years have seen a significant change in the animal populations and species used in research. According to the USDA 2000 Annual Report on Research Animal Census, the total number of dogs, cats, primates, guinea pigs, hamsters,...

Co-located clinical and research facilities; organizations try to foster breakthroughs by putting researchers, physicians, and patients together.(Chapter 7: specialty labs)
November 1, 2003... More and more, healthcare institutions are collaborating with academic research institutions as well as private pharmaceutical and R&D corporations to form innovative partnerships and establish "co-located" clinical and research facilities. But...

Designing the public health lab: complex, varied functions create stringent design and operational challenges for these crucial laboratory facilities.(Chapter 7: specialty labs)
November 1, 2003... The planning and design of public health laboratories presents some unique challenges not found in most laboratories. The fundamental challenge in design for public health organizations is creating a remarkably diverse and dynamic mixed-use...

Learning centers replace engineering labs: flexible, multidisciplinary spaces facilitate a mix of traditional, computer-based, and experimental instruction.(Chapter 7: specially labs)
November 1, 2003... Until recently, many engineering subjects were taught through the traditional instruction, recitation, and examination method in separate, single-function classrooms and labs. Recent advances ha network systems, the reduced cost of hardware...

Renovation vs. construction: cost factors: laboratories are among the most expensive types of facilities to build and operate. The cost paradigm will help you decide whether renovation is really worthwhile.(Chapter 8: renovation & leasing)
November 1, 2003... Sooner or later, every lab meets its end. That rusted sink cabinet hints of a broader decay. The lock of electrical outlets tells naggingly reminds you that the space no longer meets your needs. Or worse, a certain chemical "perfume" in the air...

Renovation strategies for 'legacy' facilities: how to decide whether your building is worth preserving, and tips for achieving success in a science-to-science rehab.(Chapter 8: renovation & leasing)
November 1, 2003... A legacy is literally "something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor, or from the past." Renovating and expanding "legacy" science buildings is the most common and politically safest strategy for increasing and upgrading lab space on...