Green Lab: a strategic design framework to develop sustainable research laboratories

The aim of this paper is to present a system of design strategies, useful to technical institutes and universities, that endeavor to create more environmentally and socially sustainable laboratory spaces. The GreenLab model is designed to promote sustainable education throughout the complete life cycle of smart buildings. This requires a critical departure from traditional practices, starting at the formative stage, as defined by Edward Mazria's 2010 Imperative and 2030 Challenge: first the change required in education, making ecological literacy a central tenet; then the change enabled in design, required to reduce CO2 emissions by building activity by 50%. GreenLab assumes an alternative approach to design education, to deliver different results - rendering the education process itself innovative, interactive and sustainable, and demanding smart buildings with the same characteristics.