Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - Demerec Building

Modernism in America Awards Jury and Docomomo US - Award of Excellence Winner

This project is a complete gut renovation of the existing historic laboratory building which has housed the science for three Nobel Laurates over the years. The original cast-in-place concrete building in the “Brutalist” architectural style was built circa 1953 with a two-story structural steel and metal panel addition laboratory annex constructed sometime in the 1980s. Our work consisted of the complete gut demolition of the entire interior of the building down to the “bones” of the building including abatement of all the asbestos and lead base paint to provide for a clean skeleton around which the new facility will be constructed. Built and fit out for the 21st century, the facility provides laboratory and support spaces for modern, state-of-the-art biology and chemistry disciplines related to the scientific researcher’s specific disciplines. Support included the complete built out of a high-pressure steam system and glass wash / kitchen for all of the glassware utilized in the science as well as a sophisticated Building Instrumentation and Controls, HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical systems to provide for the proper scientific environment, including negative air laboratories and isolation virus laboratories. Along with these five very intricate laboratory spaces housed in the building are collaborative spaces and offices that were created to nurture the creative minds of the fellow scientists. This Laboratory building represents one of the most modern laboratories in the world.