Polytech Associates provided full architectural services for a new DNA laboratory totaling 5,500 sf at Kaiser Permanente’s facility in Berkeley, CA. The expanded space will allow researchers to store 500,000 blood and saliva samples in a database that will be used for disease prevention and genetic studies.

An important component of our scope of work is the creation of a ventilation system that will keep the correct percentage of oxygen in the air in the event of a liquid nitrogen spill. An alarm system that will signal users to evacuate the laboratory is also being incorporated.

Our design team is created program that integrates space for ambient storage, which will be used for storing DNA extracted from blood, and cryogenic storage, which will store DNA extracted from saliva with a direct path from reviewing to processing and storage.

Relevant Project Features:
• Laboratory planning Ventilation system to maintain balance of oxygen in air
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) using Revit
• Designed to meet LEED Silver standards
• In-house drafting capable of meeting required submittal dates