Originally designed by Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, and Abbot, BioLabs is an historic 1930s-era wet lab facility supporting funded, mission-critical science research in the biology, neurobiology, and genetics fields. The 240,000 sf six-story building includes PI laboratories, shared research core facilities, lecture hall and classroom spaces, and offices. RFS was originally engaged to work in BioLabs in 2004, to perform an assessment of laboratory exhaust air and make-up air. Since 2004, RFS has worked continuously in the building, providing master planning and designs for primary MEP/FP infrastructure renewal, and providing MEP/FP and structural engineering in support of over 50 building renovation projects.
Infrastructure projects have included replacement of an in-building 13.8 kV campus substation, upgrade of power distribution building-wide, replacement of decentralized laboratory exhaust and make-up air systems with centralized systems incorporating energy recovery, and upgrade of the campus chilled water service to the building. All infrastructure projects were planned to enable uninterrupted science.
Building renovation projects have supported new PI programs, with each program requiring custom and highly specific MEP/FP fit-outs. Working direct for Harvard, and as a consultant to several architects, for over 20 years RFS has served as the primary BioLabs engineering resource for over $150 million in capital reinvestment.
Services
Mechanical
Electrical
Plumbing
Fire Protection
Structural
Technology
Commissioning
Metrics
240,000 sf
© 2025 Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering