LSY Architects & Lab Planners

Building 4, constructed in 1941, is one of the earliest structures on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Bethesda campus. Prior to this renovation project, the building had not undergone significant updates since 1985. The building is occupied by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and houses specialized laboratories and associated spaces, including an insectary, an animal research facility, and a microscopy core.

LSY’s design team developed a strategy for a comprehensive two-phase renovation of the entire building, upgrading both the research laboratories and the building’s infrastructure to meet contemporary NIH standards. This project aimed to provide state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and modernized support and administrative spaces throughout the building. The key focus was on upgrading inefficient building systems and improving the quality of the laboratory spaces to meet the rigorous needs of scientific research.

The achieved LEED Silver certification. LSY worked closely with both end users (the NIAID researchers) and facility management teams to integrate a variety of energy-saving and sustainable strategies. Key sustainable features incorporated into the renovation include:

-Water Use Reduction:
-Lighting and Temperature Controls:
-Daylighting
-Building System Upgrades:

LSY’s comprehensive involvement in this project, from design through post-construction, ensured that the newly renovated building met the needs of NIAID’s specialized research programs while also providing a modern, efficient, and sustainable environment for scientific discovery