The Richards Medical Research Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn, underwent renovations to adapt the space for continued medical research use. As the original laboratory design did not fully support the intended program, the renovations removed wet labs in favor of dry labs requiring fewer mechanical systems. Multiple phases carefully followed preservation standards to respect Kahn's design while upgrading aging infrastructure like windows and mechanical systems. The renovations allowed the iconic building to better serve current research needs in a sustainable manner.

1. 2 0 t h A n n u al L a b D e s i g n C o n f e r e n c e • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 2 1 • S h e r a t o n P h i l a de lp hia , P A
ADAPTING RICHARDS MEDICAL
RESEARCH LABORATORY

2. 2 0 t h A n n u al L a b D e s i g n C o n f e r e n c e • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 2 1 • S h e r a t o n P h i l a de lp hia , P A
Lab Design Conference
Provider Number: L390
Adapting Richards Medical Research
Laboratory
Course Number – LDC2021B11
Michael Schade, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Atkin Olshin Schade Architects
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

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Lab Design Conference
The Lab Design Conference is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of
Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CED). Credit(s) earned on completion of this
course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both
AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it
does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or
endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
_______________________________________
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the
conclusion of this presentation.

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Course Description
The University of Pennsylvania’s Alfred Newton Richards Medical Research Laboratory is
an important building designed by Louis I. Kahn, one of the greatest architects of the 20th
century. The site includes three original laboratory towers and a central service tower. Two
additional towers, the Goddard Laboratories, complete the complex. Atkin Olshin Schade
Architects recently completed two phases of renovations to create state of the art medical
research space in the Richards building and on one floor in Goddard. The design of
Richards, while groundbreaking, never fully served the original laboratory program to its
best advantage. The University embarked on an ambitious restoration and renovation
project for the buildings that included replacing the exterior glazing and
mechanical/electrical systems, and established design and preservation standards for
interior renovations. Key to the success of this new program was the removal of wet labs
from the buildings and their replacement with other medical research uses requiring less
plumbing and fewer air changes. The renovations significantly reduced energy usage in the
buildings.

5. 2 0 t h A n n u al L a b D e s i g n C o n f e r e n c e • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 2 1 • S h e r a t o n P h i l a de lp hia , P A
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1:
Importance of Richards as an architectural icon.
Learning Objective 2:
Problems with laboratory use in Richards.
Learning Objective 3:
Programmatic changes to reestablish the usability of the building.
Learning Objective 4:
Specific architectural, MEP, and preservation interventions.

6. An Architectural Icon
▪ Commissioned in 1957
▪ Architect: Louis I. Kahn
▪ Structural Engineer: August Komendant
▪ Completed in 1960
▪ Listed on the Philadelphia Register in 2004
▪ Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009
▪ Listed as a National Historic Landmark in 2009

7. An Architectural Icon
▪ Louis I. Kahn internationally acclaimed
modernist architect based in
Philadelphia
▪ Richards is considered one of his
seminal works
▪ Development of the separation
between “served” and “service” spaces

8. Influence and early sketch

9. Exhibited in 1961 at MOMA

10. Served & Service Spaces
▪ HVAC Shafts
▪ Vertical Transportation

11. Vierendeel Truss Grid

12. Vierendeel Truss Grid
Vierendeel Truss Grid

13. ▪ Excessive glare inside labs
▪ Uncomfortable temperature swings
Problems from the Start

14. ▪ Researchers did not want flexible,
open spaces (walls were erected to
support equipment
▪ Lack of privacy

15. ▪ Kahn’s inexperience with
laboratories
▪ Requirement for fast schedule
▪ Change in Med School leadership
▪ Internal departmental disputes over
space allocation

17. Programming the Renovation
▪ Perelman School of Medicine
▪ Continuity of Use:
Medical Research
▪ Conversion from Wet Labs to
Dry Labs

18. ▪ Three Phases of Construction
▪ EYP established Preservation
Guidelines and completed Phase 1
▪ AOS completed Phases 2 and 3
▪ Multiple Primary Investigators

19. Space Planning Concept
Office
Wet Labs
Office
Stor.
Mech.
Wet Lab
Mech.
Office
Office
Mech. Men’s
Work Room Elev
Lobby
Stor. Office Office
Office
Holding Rooms
Office
Office
Mech.
Mech.
Elev.
Rm.
Men’s
Elev. Lobby
Women’s
Lounge
Corridor
Pantry
Conf. Room
Workroom
PI
Office
PI
Office
Open
Office
Shared
Office
Shared
Office
PI
Office
PI
Office
Corridor
Stor.

20. Space Planning Concept
1. Office
2. Open Workstation
3. Shared Office
4. Storage
5. Stair
6. Restrooms
7. Conference Room
8. Testing Room
9. Mech. / Elec. Shaft

21. Space Planning Concept

25. Levels of Significance
▪ Level 1
▪ Level 2
▪ Level 3
Historic Analysis by EYP
Preservation Issues

26. Preservation Standards
▪ “The Sacred Plane”
▪ Historic components
▪ MEP/FP systems locations
and design
▪ Materials and Finishes
▪ Cleaning and Paint Removal
D TOWER SAMPLE SECTION LOOKING SOUTH

27. Preservation Standards
“The Sacred Plane”
Original construction section
drawing, May 1958, showing
layering of systems

28. Preservation Standards
Historic Components
▪ Repair rather than replace wherever possible
▪ Replace to match the original in design, color, texture,
and material wherever possible
▪ Materials used for conservation to be visually and
physically compatible

29. Existing ceiling conditions

30. Terrazzo floors

31. CMU and Concrete

32. CMU and Concrete
Testing and analysis by Building Conservation Associates

33. CMU and Concrete

34. CMU and Pre-cast concrete

38. Exterior Envelope
Repairs

39. Window analysis

40. Window analysis

41. Window analysis
Diagrams prepared by Heintges Consulting Architects & Engineers
Yale Art Gallery (1951-1953) AFL Medical Services Building (1954-1957) Richards Laboratory (1960-1963) Salk Institute (1960-1963)

42. Window analysis
Diagrams prepared by Heintges Consulting Architects & Engineers
Existing Glazing Assembly Potential Remediation: Insulated Glazing Unit Potential Remediation: Monolithic/Laminated Lite

43. Window solution

46. Exterior Concrete Repairs

47. Exterior Concrete Repairs

48. Exterior Concrete Repairs

49. Accessibility Improvements

51. Mechanical Systems

52. Mechanical Systems
PENTHOUSE PLAN
PHASE 1
EXISTING
A TOWER CONSTRUCTION
B TOWER CONSTRUCTION

53. Mechanical Systems

54. Mechanical Systems

55. Project Teams
Phase 1 Team
▪ EYP
▪ Urban Engineers
▪ Keast & Hood
▪ Heintges
▪ Building Conservation Associates
▪ Shen Milsom Wilke
▪ Cline Bettridge Bernstein
▪ Intech
▪ ESTO
Phase 2 and 3 Team
▪ AOS Architects
▪ Bruce E. Brooks
▪ Keast & Hood
▪ CVM
▪ RWDI
▪ Shen Milsom Wilke
▪ Metropolitan Acoustics
▪ T. N. Ward
▪ Halkin Mason
University of Pennsylvania
▪ David Hollenberg
▪ Bob Angstadt
▪ Maureen Ward
▪ Steve Moore

56. Recognition
▪ AIA Pennsylvania Honor Award
▪ Docomomo US Modernism in America Citation of Merit
▪ Preservation Pennsylvania Construction Award for Rehabilitation
▪ AIA Philadelphia Design Merit Award
▪ GBCA Best Historic Preservation Project
▪ AIA Tri-State Architectural Excellence in Design Bronze Award
▪ Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Preservation
Achievement Grand Jury Award
▪ Phase 3 USGBC LEED CI Gold
▪ Phase 2 USGBC LEED CI Silver
▪ Phase 1 USGBC LEED CI Silver

64. 2 0 t h A n n u al L a b D e s i g n C o n f e r e n c e • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 2 1 • S h e r a t o n P h i l a de lp hia , P A
ADAPTING RICHARDS MEDICAL
RESEARCH LABORATORY