University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Murray Hall Be a Maker (BeAM) Makerspace and Laboratory

The UNC Murray Hall BeAM Makerspace, and the associated Applied Physical Sciences (APS) Labs, offered a unique opportunity to integrate a variety of programmatic elements under the over-arching umbrella of educational innovation. From inception, this was to be a space that not only allowed for but actively encouraged research, invention, collaboration and entrepreneurship.
The design strategy was to view the entire floor as a lab, with a focus on defining spaces by activities (researching, creating, collaborating) rather than specific disciplines.
Integration of the spaces was a main design driver, but some spaces had requirements that did not lend themselves to a totally open plan, such as the wood shop, metal fabrication shop, and research labs. These spaces are in dedicated areas (with proper ventilation, exhaust, and equipment), but they are delineated by glass partitions wherever possible in order to allow for maximum transparency. Nearly all infrastructure in the Makerspace and APS Labs is delivered through the ceiling and perimeter; mobile workbenches/casework allow for easy reconfiguration to satisfy multiple users.

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