A PRIVATE LABORATORY for CHEMICAL RESEARCH J. BURN HELME* The Pennsylvania State
T
College, State College. Pennsylvania
HE private laboratories for chemical research here illustrated are examples of the application of new concepts of realism and collaboration to the teaching of architectural design. This has postulated contact with contemporary problems and with experts in the different fields in which such problems lie. As a result of the application of these concepts for a period of three years, the subject of architectural design a t The Pennsylvania State College has been humanized in a unique fashion and made more vivid for the student there. At the same time the student has been made more conscious of the cultural values inherent in science itself. That this should be the constant aim of teach-
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* Associate
Professor of Architecture.
ing is a truism. Reasons for delay in the consurnrnation of this logic in the realm of architectural teaching are not so obvious. Emphasis has always been laid on plan in architectural design, but for decades the traditional program to be solved by the student has been dry and stereotyped-a museum, a theater, or a town hall. The romantic idea that only certain types of building lend themselves to architectural consideration and treatment, or constitute fit subjects for esthetic handling, long held sway. Academic design refused to consider the facto~yand warehouse, the service station, and the low-cost house as worthy of concern. They were relegated to engineers and contractors who often did a good job of layout for use, but who had no particular 406
interest in beauty. Only recently have the schools been willing to face the totality of modern life and to observe social requirements as technical and esthetic problems. In addition there has been a re-birth of the fundamental comprehension of architecture as enclosed space, projected from a logical plan, rather than as a series of facades hiding and sometimes warping the in,. terior arrangement of a porous mass. Contemporary problems go far beyond architecture into industry, economics, sociology, and politics. In the end many experts must have a hand in solving them. But i t is the peculiar province : of the architect, with his esthetic training and his capacity to observe, study, and visualize, to coijrdinate the work of : these experts and to imagine new solutions for old problems and fitting integrations for the new ones. This laboratory problem, the pro.' . gram of which is printed below, was solved by a group of second-year students in architectural engineering. The subject matter of the program had a natural appeal for such a group, which encouraged them in their search, over a period of five weeks, for a solution. ., The program was compiled with the : advice and collaboration of Dr. N. W. Taylor of the College Department of Ceramics. Professor G . C. Chandlee of the School of Chemistry and Physics was the mentor of the class as i t made a study of laboratory layout and chemical equipment in the Pond Laboratory : of the College. Thus the boys were able to handle and measure the equipment for which they were providing space and to secure a tactile as well as a visual sense of relative space values. At the end of three weeks a half-scale study of each solution was turned in and criticized by Dr. Chandlee. At this time, with rare discernment, Professor Chandlee gave a cogent review of the needs of the problem from the viewpoint of one engaged in research. After further study in the light of this critique, the problem, a t final scale, was submitted for judgment. A skilled jury of award premiated five of the solutions, four of which are here reproduced.
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PROGRAM POR A PRIVATE LABORATORY FOR CHEMICAL RESEARCH
The remarkable developments in engineering and technology which have followed the application of scientific studies have aroused, as never before, interest on the part of wealthy men in the fascinating possibilities of chemical research. In England, science as a
hobby of the wealthy has long been typical; as examples the laboratories of Henry Cavendish and Lord Rayleigh may be cited. Benjamin Franklin and Joseph Priestley were early exponents of a similar enthusiasm in this country. More recently, the Loomis Laboratory a t Tuxedo Park, New York, well known for its work on electrical problems, and the museum collection of minerals and accessory laboratory of John Roebling are already classic examples of this sort of thing. As a further testimony to the interest in science, amateur astronomical observatories with accessory shop, photographic laboratory, and library are becoming more common. In this instance a well-to-do amateur proposes to build on the grounds of his suburban estate a small chemical research laboratory, to be used by himself and two assistants. The requirements, with approximate areas, are: 1. A vestibule.
4. A small work-shop100 sq. ft. 5. Two offices, for owner and one assistant-300 sq. ft. 6. A combined library and small museum. 7. Part-time secretary's office-100 sq. ft. 8. Stock room (one assistant, with drafting table, will have quarters here)-120 sq. ft. 9. Photographic dark room and balance room (remote from stock and "stink" room) each 60 sq. ft. 10. Cloak room, closets, cupboards, toilets, etc.
2. A main laboratory--600 sq. ft. 3. A fireproof "stink" room with small furnace. (Assay work will be carried on here.)-120 to 150 sq. ft.
Orientation of the laboratory rooms and offices preferably should be north and east. It is obvious that the business of ventilating such a building as this is extremely important. In the basement there shall he a small power plant, including exhaust fan. If the heat is not brought in from the main house the heating plant for the laboratory shall also be here. In the basement, too, there should be a general stock room serviced from the outside. The two stockrooms should be connected by lift or circular stairway. Laboratory desks should be provided with gas, water, and electrical (D.c. and A.c.) connections, and compressed air lines. There should be non-corroding stoneware or lead pipes for sinks and conduits. Storage batteries and corrosive chemicals will be stored in the "stink" room, which should have an individual ventilatine unit. Required for the Final Drawings. Main-floor Plan, Section and Elevation a t the scale of 3/n of an inch equals one foot, and an isometric drawing to be projected from the Plan a t scale.
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