Imagine stepping into a science laboratory in the 1970s: a space that’s cramped, cold and sterile, with researchers working in isolation for hours, meticulously recording observations with little interaction. This environment, designed to prioritize quiet and focus, served its purpose well for decades, allowing scientists to immerse themselves in discovery. But as science and technology have evolved, so have the needs and expectations of lab users.
Today’s researchers seek collaborative, flexible spaces that adapt to their shifting priorities and foster teamwork. In response, architects and designers are reimagining laboratory spaces – not only to meet scientific demands but to enhance the daily experiences of the people working within them. With projects across Canada, firms like mcCallumSather are leading this shift, transforming outdated labs into vibrant hubs that prioritize both innovation and the human element
“I love taking the boring, banal, white lab and making it playful, fun and a place where teams look forward to working,” says Liam Brown, principal at mcCallumSather, a Canadian architecture, design and engineering firm.
Modern health-sciences workers have indicated they want flexible spaces that are adaptable and easily reconfigured based on changing research priorities. They also want bright environments that lead to a better work-life balance and encourage productivity.
“Canada has great examples of brutalist architecture, but these buildings are usually closed off from natural light, and the science is not on display,” says Mr. Brown. “There is also not a lot of emphasis on collision spaces for collaboration. Redeveloping these spaces is advantageous in terms of breaking that open and attracting world-class talent.”
Customized, collaborative hubs
Contemporary laboratories are evolving into collaborative hubs where researchers from diverse disciplines can have casual conversations that drive innovation.
No one size fits all. Modern labs are customized – not cookie-cutter – and are designed in partnership with clients to match current and future needs.
“Science can change, and the lab of the future needs to change with it,” says Mr. Brown.
Bringing years of expertise in designing specialized laboratory spaces, mcCallumSather has partnered with leading institutions, including Brock University, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo (UW), to reimagine what scientific workspaces can be.
An ‘old friend’ gets a makeover
Long-time faculty members describe UW’s earth sciences and chemistry building, which opened in 1964, as an ‘old friend.’ That’s because it was one of the first half-dozen buildings on UW’s campus, making it a local cultural centre that’s home to award-winning scientists and ground-breaking studies. Yet, as science evolved, so did the need for a space that reflects modern research practices.
“You had a receptionist sitting at a desk in front of a professor’s office, and there was lab space scrunched in adjacent to them,” says Mike Ditty, director of infrastructure and technical resources in the science department at UW. “The original floor plan was chopped up and divided like a rabbit warren, and it worked back then, but today people are looking to work in flexible, open and bright lab spaces.”
The renovations to the third floor of UW’s earth science and chemistry building span 24,000 square feet. The revised plan introduced eight customized, modular laboratories, along with office space for faculty and graduate students, administrative areas and collaborative workspaces. The interconnected modular labs introduce equal space for all users that can easily evolve to meet the changing needs of science.
The renovation is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2025. But the reimagining of this ‘old friend’ is only the first of future facility upgrades aimed at elevating the standards of UW’s infrastructure and creating more space for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and innovation – as outlined in the UW science faculty’s strategic plan (2024-2029).
“The earth science, chemistry building was at a point in its life cycle where we needed to do a lot of mechanical maintenance to the electrical infrastructure behind the walls,” says Rob Hunsperger, senior director of planning, design and construction at UW. “We decided that if we were going to tear the place apart to restore some of the functionality, it made sense to deal with the functional obsolescence at the same time.”
Science meets sustainability
Science laboratories traditionally use a lot of energy owing to ventilation safety requirements and the inclusion of fume hoods and fans to remove harmful vapours and gases.
However, meeting UW’s campus-wide sustainability goals – one of which aims to implement strategies to reduce energy use growth on campus – is critical to the science department’s renovation. That’s why mcCallumSather ingrained sustainability principles into its design and use of materials. This includes enhancing the structure’s building envelope to make it more energy-efficient and using sustainable materials, such as high-recycled rubber flooring and reused terrazzo flooring.
“Science is really leading the way at the University of Waterloo in meeting our sustainability goals for the entire campus,” says Mr. Ditty.
“We are the first faculty to really future-proof and prepare for more energy-efficient heating systems that rely on lower-temperature hot water.”
