The Magic Behind Terremoto Labs: Where Science Meets Design
Terremoto Labs, based in South San Francisco, is a leading player in biosciences, focusing on developing new medicines using covalent chemistry. Their innovative approach targets serious diseases, including cancer, aiming to create treatments that are not only effective but also quickly available to patients. For architectural photographers, understanding the design of such advanced labs is crucial, as it showcases the intersection of science and design in a highly specialized environment.
Captivating Design Features
The design of Terremoto Labs plays a pivotal role in fostering scientific innovation. The lab spaces, characterized by their continuous banks of windows, offer abundant natural light, creating a pleasant and efficient workspace for scientists. Accent colors of teal and blue on the walls and floors reflect Terremoto's brand identity, adding a vibrant yet professional atmosphere.
Natural Light: Extensive windows provide ample natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting and creating a more inviting workspace.
Brand Colors: The use of teal and blue not only aligns with Terremoto’s branding but also adds a visually appealing element to the lab environment.
Efficient Layout: The lab design prioritizes efficiency, with strategically placed workstations and equipment to facilitate smooth workflow and collaboration.Specialized Equipment and Workspaces
Genie Scientific played a crucial role in outfitting Terremoto Labs with specialized lab cabinetry and fume hoods. These features are essential for maintaining safety and efficiency in a high-stakes research environment. The collaboration with Landmark Builders ensured that the lab spaces were designed and built to meet the specific needs of bioscience research.
Photography Challenges and Solutions
Capturing the essence of Terremoto Labs required careful planning and execution. The use of a wide-angle tilt-shift lens was necessary to photograph the expansive lab spaces effectively.
However, the presence of several wires hanging from the ceiling posed a significant challenge. Extensive retouching in Photoshop was required to clean up the final images, ensuring a polished and professional appearance.
Due to continuous ribbon windows along the lab, balancing natural and artificial light sources posed a challenge, since a digital camera sensor picks up more color casts from these light sources than our human eyes notice.
To deal with the competing light sources, I captured multiple exposures with various lighting adjustments, and made composite images using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, to ensure natural looking final images.
Another challenge is the amount of glass in the scene. Glass on the fume hoods produces lots of reflections that are not a problem for the human viewer in the space, but such reflections can be distracting in the photograph. Techniques such as capturing frames with the overhead lights off and curtains down, and fume hood internal lights on effectively killed the reflections, and I then “painted” in the reflection-free glass areas in Photoshop.
The Role of Design in Scientific Success
The success of a bioscience company like Terremoto Labs is not solely dependent on scientific expertise. The design of their workspace significantly impacts productivity, safety, and overall morale. For architectural photographers, capturing these elements is essential to convey the story behind the design.
Efficient Workspaces
Efficiency in lab design is critical for scientific research. At Terremoto Labs, the layout is meticulously planned to ensure that scientists have easy access to necessary equipment and materials. This reduces downtime and enhances the flow of work, which is crucial in a fast-paced research environment.
Strategic Placement: Workstations are strategically placed to minimize unnecessary movement and maximize productivity.
Safety Features: Specialized lab cabinetry and fume hoods, provided by Genie Scientific, ensure that the lab environment is safe for conducting sensitive experiments.
Collaborative Environment
The design of Terremoto Labs also fosters collaboration among scientists. Open lab spaces and communal areas encourage interaction and idea-sharing, which are vital for innovation.
Open Spaces: Large, open lab areas facilitate teamwork and communication.
Meeting Areas: Designated areas for meetings and discussions help integrate different teams and promote a collaborative culture.
Landmark Builders' Contribution
Landmark Builders played a pivotal role in bringing Terremoto Labs' vision to life. Their expertise in constructing specialized lab spaces ensured that every detail was meticulously planned and executed. The partnership with Genie Scientific was crucial in outfitting the labs with the necessary equipment.
Construction Excellence: Landmark Builders’ experience in constructing high-tech lab spaces was key to the successful completion of Terremoto Labs.
Attention to Detail: From the layout to the choice of materials, every aspect was carefully considered to meet the unique needs of bioscience research.
Capturing the Intersection of Science and Design
Architectural photography at Terremoto Labs is not just about capturing the physical space; it’s about telling the story of how design and science intersect to create an environment that fosters innovation. The challenge lies in showcasing the technical aspects of the lab while highlighting the aesthetic and functional elements that make it unique.
Technical Photography Techniques
Photographing lab spaces requires specialized techniques to accurately capture their size and complexity. Using a wide-angle tilt-shift lens allows photographers to portray the expansive nature of the labs without distortion. This technique ensures that the images are both visually striking and true to the actual space.
Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Lens: Essential for capturing large, open spaces with minimal distortion.
Retouching: Necessary to remove distractions, such as wires or equipment, that can detract from the image’s overall impact.
Emphasizing Key Features
When photographing Terremoto Labs, it’s important to focus on the elements that make the space unique and functional. This includes the extensive natural light, the brand-specific accent colors, and the specialized equipment provided by Genie Scientific. Highlighting these features helps to convey the story of how design supports scientific work.
Natural Light: Showcase how natural light enhances the workspace.
Brand Colors: Capture the teal and blue accents that add visual interest and brand identity.
Specialized Equipment: Emphasize the importance of lab cabinetry and fume hoods in maintaining a safe and efficient workspace.
Concluding Thoughts
The design of Terremoto Labs exemplifies how thoughtful planning and expert execution can create a space that supports cutting-edge scientific research. For architectural photographers, capturing this blend of science and design is an exciting challenge that requires both technical skill and an eye for detail.
Terremoto Labs stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between architects, builders, and scientists. The result is a state-of-the-art facility that not only meets the rigorous demands of bioscience research but also provides an inspiring and efficient workspace for the scientists dedicated to developing life-saving treatments.
Key Takeaways from The Magic Behind Terremoto Labs: Where Science Meets Design
Strategic Lab Design: Terremoto Labs’ design, with ample natural light and brand-specific colors, supports a productive and pleasant work environment.
Efficiency and Safety: The lab’s layout and specialized equipment from Genie Scientific ensure efficient workflow and a safe research environment.
Collaborative Spaces: Open areas and meeting rooms foster collaboration and idea-sharing among scientists.
Construction Excellence: Landmark Builders’ expertise was crucial in realizing the lab’s vision, focusing on detail and functionality.
Photography Techniques: Effective architectural photography involves using wide-angle tilt-shift lenses and extensive retouching to accurately capture lab spaces.