Re: Multi-user Imaging room plans?

Posted by Tim O'Brien Sr. on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Multi-user-Imaging-room-plans-tp2264638p2264866.html

We did a bit of that when we moved to our new lab, with one large room subdivided with curtains, and one with actual walls and doors to make minilabs within.  Our experience seems to be that the walled rooms, although more expensive, are routinely used for independent experiments, while the curtained room is less easily used for independent experiments.  One issue is separate lights for each area.  Depending on how much input you have into construction, if you should aim to have separate and independent control of the lighting for each subdivided area, you might be able to make it practical for separate users. We also often wish we had separate light switches in each area as well as by the main door.  It is also harder to separate one's self from conversation and so on within a curtained area.  Minimize traffic if possible.  You also need to have a path to walk or move things between areas without disturbing the others.  Some microscopes need access to the rear and not just the front (for lasers and so on),  and that needs to be thought though. Plus curtains are not as noise-damping as walls.  Nor as light excluding. 

So, I would recommend really thinking through the daily use of a subdivided area, and, if possible, to actually subdivide with walls and (large) doors, with independent light and power and air supply for each mini-room.  And you do not want the air supply vents to be sending air at the microscope, but have a way to direct it away.  Or at least independently lit curtained areas. 

With that many nice microscopes, you will get a lot more out of them if they are separated by real walls. 

A nice problem to have!

Tim O'Brien
CISMM, UNC Chapel Hill 



Milton Charlton wrote:

We are contemplating building a multi-user imaging room containing 3 confocals, 2  2-photon confocals, 1-2 widefield scopes.  We would isolate parts of the room with curtains.

Has anyone constructed such a room and can send plans and/or recommendations about construction, utilities, etc?  Photos might help too.

Thanks for your help.

 

Milton Charlton

 

Milton P. Charlton, Professor
Physiology Department
Medical Science Building #3308
University of Toronto
1 King's College Circle
Toronto, ON, M5S1A8
Canada
tel:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
[hidden email]