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Welcome to another exciting entry in Kewaunee’s Amazing Spaces competition blog series! We’re thrilled to bring you stories of some of the most innovative and inspiring scientific environments around the world. These spaces, brought to life with the help of Kewaunee and our dedicated dealer partners, are pushing the boundaries of research and discovery.
Today, we’re highlighting the new state-of-the-art facility for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in Topeka, KS. This incredible space is a one-stop shop for everything that keeps Kansans safe from a scientific standpoint, incorporating all the state’s medical records, public health information, and environmental sustainability data.
Project Overview
Innovative Laboratory Systems, Inc.’s Kansas office collaborated with Clark & Enersen Partners and McCown Gordon Construction to complete this incredible facility, which spans over 100,000 square feet and includes three floors of laboratories. Impressively, the team completed this project in under 30 months. The labs were designed around Kewaunee’s cutting-edge product lines. This included 700 steel cabinets, 275 Evolution tables, 1,200 feet of overhead ceiling service track, 30 Venturi fume hoods, and 87,000 pounds of Kemresin worksurfaces.
Each lab was outfitted with satin grey cabinets and tables, snow white wall cabinets and shelving/hoods, slate Kemresin worktops, and accent walls for each discipline. This was a refreshing change from the typical one-color concept.
Key Players
- Dealer: Innovative Laboratory Systems (ILS)
- Builder: McCown Gordon
- Architect: Clark & Enersen
Project Goals
The primary goals for this project included:
- Optimizing Laboratory Functionality: Designing labs that enhance efficiency and support diverse scientific activities.
- Facilitating Future Growth: Creating flexible spaces that can accommodate future expansions and technological advancements.
- Ensuring Operational Efficiency: Implementing design features that streamline operations and reduce long-term costs.
- Enhancing Convenience: Locating the facility adjacent to the Kansas Capitol Complex to provide synergies with other state agencies and shared site amenities.
Kewaunee Products Utilized
- Slate Kemresin
- Venturi Fume Hoods
- Alpha Wall Shelving
- Evolution Tables
- Steel Base & Wall Cabinets
Special Considerations
ILS worked directly with Clark & Enersen from the beginning of the design to accomplish everything the end user wanted for their new space. This included mobility, space for future growth, service hookups, customized and color-coded circuiting at the Evolution tables, and a ceiling track service system.
Clark & Enersen provided programming services for KDHE to understand the feasibility of relocating vs. renovating. The ILS team began their efforts by dedicating three days to observing activities within each laboratory group. This helped to find innovative ways to optimize the basic function for each group.
Programming services from ILS included existing building analysis, energy analysis, project cost analysis, operation and maintenance cost projections, and design and construction schedule projections. The programming process helped define multiple ways of gaining space efficiency, which translated to construction cost and operational savings. After exploring multiple site options and completing the programming and site studies, it was decided that the construction of a new standalone facility would be the most cost-effective option for the State of Kansas.
The new KDHE facility is on a downtown site adjacent to the Kansas Capitol Complex. This site choice provided synergies with other State Agencies and allowed the building to share some site amenities, ultimately saving costs. The laboratories’ modular layout provides long-term flexibility to accommodate future changes in laboratory protocols, instrumentation, and equipment.
Project Gallery
Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s new facility. Stay tuned for more entries in our Amazing Spaces competition blog series, exploring remarkable scientific spaces in the industry.