This event has been rescheduled to Wednesday, June 10 at 2:00–3:00 pm. AIA Minnesota operations will be closed on Thursday, June 4, 2020 to allow our team and community time and space to listen, grieve, and personally reflect on the loss of George Floyd. See the new event listing here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for laboratory environments. Labs were shut down in a matter of days to follow the “stay-at-home” order. As some states announce reopening plans, this will allow researchers whose work requires physical presence to advance research goals or grant requirements to reopen their labs.

As we look forward to the reopening of labs post-COVID-19, this webinar will provide some considerations that will guide the creation of a safe and healthy lab environment as well as discussions on real challenges from universities’ perspectives.

Learning Outcomes:

1) Assess the re-design of research labs using safe distancing guidelines in order to protect workers from the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
2) Identify other key design elements of a safe and healthy lab environment.
3) Develop strategies to re-open research labs safely, avoiding the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
4) Examine and compare the plans to reopen university research labs from the perspectives of university representatives.

CEUs: We have applied for 1 AIA HSW LU.

Speakers:

Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP – President-Elect, AIA Minnesota; Principal, Alliiance

Anna has dedicated much of her professional career to designing leading-edge research facilities for both corporate and academic institutions. In her leadership role on AIA Minnesota Board of Directors, Anna advocates for inclusive culture in the architectural profession.

Scott DeBlaze, AIA, LEED AP – Executive Director / Assistant Dean, Space Planning, Real Estate Management and Architectural Services at the University of Chicago Medical Center & Biological Sciences Division – Pritzker School of Medicine

Scott worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and has been at the University of Chicago for the past 14 years where he also applies his formal training as an architect. At the University of Chicago, he bridged deanships and the merger of the Biological Sciences Division / Pritzker School of Medicine / University of Chicago Hospital.  

Mary Jo Spector, AIA – Director of Research Facilities Design, Construction, and Maintenance at Florida State University

Mary Jo has worked at Florida State University for the past eight years. Previously, she worked as an urban planner and architect in Florida. She has also served as an adjunct instructor in the areas of urban design and architecture at Florida State University and Florida A&M University.

Moderator: Karen Lu, AIA – President, AIA Minnesota; Senior Associate, Snow Kreilich Architects (winner of the 2018 AIA National Firm Award)

Karen has led and collaborated on projects that have won National AIA Honor Awards, AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project Awards, AIA Minnesota Honor Awards, and Progressive Architecture Awards. She has been recognized for her leadership both locally and nationally with the AIA Minnesota and National AIA Young Architect Awards.

Hosted by: 

American Institute of Architects Minnesota, in collaboration with the Society for College and University Planning

This event has been rescheduled to Wednesday, June 10 at 2:00–3:00 pm. AIA Minnesota operations will be closed on Thursday, June 4, 2020 to allow our team and community time and space to listen, grieve, and personally reflect on the loss of George Floyd. See the new event listing here.

View all webinars in the Future of Design series.