Biologics Regulation and ResearchThe People and Work of Buildings 29 & 29A

Laboratory Building Design

Influence of Modernism

Modernism’s simplistic and streamlined design concepts combined with the advent of new and cheaper building materials created an era of architecture in the 1950s and 60s that was both practical and economical. In relation to research and academic institutions, buildings and campuses were being designed to fit the current needs of scientists and employees rather than serve as a lasting tangible tribute to an institution or idea. These architectural advancements, coupled with the directives of both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations to both improve and expand Federal architecture in the nation’s capital and across the U.S., gave birth to a new era of largescale, planned campus facilities in Modern building and landscape design:

“The design of Federal office buildings, particularly those to be located in the Nation’s Capital, must meet a two-fold requirement. First, it must provide efficient and economical facilities for the use of Government agencies. Second, it must provide visual testimony to the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American government.

 Landscaping is included as an integral part of the design of any building and appropriate instructions are given in this respect during the design stage to contract architects and engineers. As part of these instructions, the architect is told to make his design in keeping with the motif of the community."

• —Rolando Rivas-Camp 2002

The evolution of the modern research facility did not occur overnight, rather it was an evolution through trial and error. A key element to designing a successful research space was not only ensuring proper allocation of space but also allowing for both expansion/conversion of working areas and easy collaboration among researchers. Architects and designers took cues from earlier projects of the late 1950s–1960s where buildings were often designed with floor plans that were considered too narrow by the inhabitants and with spacing between floors and utility corridors that was viewed as inherently insufficient. An excellent case study in this evolving design theory can be seen in the work of Louis Kahn. Louis Kahn’s 1962 Richards Medical Research Laboratories located at the University of Pennsylvania is known as a Landmark Modern building. Despite innovations in design, the facility’s floorplan used space inefficiently and isolated the researchers from each other. Kahn applied the lessons he learned from his University of Pennsylvania project to the design of the iconic Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. Kahn worked with famed Polio researcher, Jonas Salk, to test design concepts that are utilized by lab designers even today. At the Salk Institute, Kahn was charged “to create spacious, unobstructed laboratory spaces that could be adapted to the ever-changing needs of science” (Fiederer 2017). Kahn utilized large, well-lit spaces constructed out of lasting materials that could be easily cleaned and manipulated for the needs of researchers. In addition, Kahn incorporated landscaping elements to both enhance the design of the campus as well as serve a function.

Buildings 29 and 29A

The buildings at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of Biologics Standards (DBS) suffered from many of the design limitations of the Richards laboratory building discussed above. From 1955 to 1960, scientists and administrators in the DBS were spread amongst multiple buildings on the NIH campus, including Buildings 4, 5, 7, and 8. While Building 29 allowed researchers to work and collaborate more easily in one consolidated space, by the early 1960s additional space was clearly needed. The firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls was chosen for the project as they had completed or served as associate architect on several largescale Modern design projects in the 1950s–early 1960s, including the GE Motors Technical Center, in Detroit, Michigan and Michigan Bell Telephone Northwest Staff Center in Southfield, Michigan. Smith, Hinchman & Grylls were utilizing new modern technology as well as incorporating the feedback and wishes of their clients much like Louis Kahn at the Salk institute in order to create designs that would allow for the best use of lighting and space for the researchers working in their buildings. As such, Building 29A was designed with an innovative floor plan that catered to the needs of the NIH DBS Laboratory Annex. The floor plan featured an exterior perimeter corridor that shielded the labs from light, heat, and noise from the outdoors, as well as modular laboratories which could be adjusted as project needs changed, and continuous utility cores behind each hallway of labs in order to facilitate these changes easily. Engineering/architectural controls such as air intake towers and a high velocity exhaust air system were also put in place to ensure that the working environment was both functional and safe.

Building 29 was designed to be functional and safe for the Division of Biologics Standards Laboratory. The building does not have much exterior ornament and does not contain the Georgian Revival style features that are present on the historic core of the NIH campus. Building 29 has a center corridor on each floor, with laboratories and offices on each side, separated in some cases by movable partitions. Over time, small office spaces were carved out of laboratory space using these movable partitions. At the time of survey in July 2021, and compared to construction drawings, the floor plan of Building 29 has not changed much since it opened in 1960. When the building was vacated in 2014, most of the laboratory equipment was removed. Asbestos abatement has led to partial demolition in some areas, but the exterior of the building remains intact, and some interior spaces do as well, conveying the significance of the laboratory space.

Due to the continuous occupation of the building for more than 50 years, and the changing needs and technologies of research scientists, the interior of the building has been modified on numerous occasions; many of those dates are likely unknown. There are copies of minor renovation drawings in the NIH plan office which include HVAC modifications in 1991, modifications to Rooms 501, 505, 509, and 511 in 2001, modifications to Rooms 430 and 432 around 2003, a new fire alarm system in 2011, and a new sprinkler system in 2018. Building 29 went through asbestos abatement in 2015–2016 after two years of assessment and hazardous material research, so unfortunately, much of the interior is partially demolished. Cold room interiors, most flooring, much of the wall cladding, and many ceiling tiles have been removed. There are still some interior spaces, however, that reflect their historic laboratory, administrative, and/or other relevant uses.
Building 29A had a different floor plan and design from Building 29 and most other lab buildings at NIH. Instead of a central corridor like in Building 29, there was an exterior corridor around the entire perimeter of the building and then two smaller cross corridors. Labs in Building 29A faced the interior of the building and were shielded from light, heat, and noise from outdoors. A utility core behind each hallway allowed for this configuration and brought electric, plumbing, gas, etc. to the labs. Air intake towers, located in the median of the parking area in front of the building, provided clean air for the mechanical system, while a high velocity exhaust air system was placed on the roof to ensure dilution and dispersion of laboratory and vivarium exhaust air. In 1994, a third building, Building 29B was added to the complex, and all three buildings are connected by pedestrian bridges and/or basement access. 

Much like Building 29, Building 29A does not contain the Georgian Revival style features that are present on the historic core of the NIH campus. Compared to construction drawings, the floor plan of Building 29A has not changed much since it opened in 1967. When the building was vacated in 2014, most of the laboratory equipment was removed, but some interior spaces do still convey the significance of the laboratory function.

Due to the continuous occupation of Building 29A for almost 50 years, and the changing needs and technologies of research scientists, the interior of the building has been modified on numerous occasions; many of those dates are likely unknown for minor changes. There are copies of some renovation drawings in the NIH plan office which include modifications to Rooms 2D02–8 and 3A01–05, and installation of a mezzanine for freezers in Room B15 and installation of Rooms B15A, B15B, and B10A in 1991; installing electrical service in Room B27, and a new loading dock in 1992; renovations to Rooms 2D04–10 in 2001; renovations to labs on the third floor Corridor A, the BL3 Labs, Room 3A11, and Room 1B08 in 2002; renovations to Room 3A03 in 2006; a new vault in 2010; and a new fire alarm system in 2011. There are still some interior spaces, however, that reflect their historic laboratory, administrative, and/or other relevant uses.

Building 29 First Floor Plan with pedestrian circulation in yellow and utility shafts in red. NIH Office of Research Facilities 1957

Building 29A First Floor Plan with utility cores are in red, pedestrian circulation is in yellow (including cross corridors and the perimeter corridor).  NIH Office of Research Facilities 1964