Hi all,

The University with which we are affiliated is currently planning a  
large new research building which will incorporate an (optical)  
cellular imaging facility.

The design brief expressed a preference for a ground floor/basement  
location for the imaging facility but the current plans have the  
facility located on the 4th floor.

The plan is that the facility will house a mixture of optical  
microscopes, ie confocal, multiphoton, widefield etc, and (by the time  
the facility is built), super-resolution.

(At this stage there is also plenty of room for future expansion/new  
technologies)

I'm interested to hear experiences/feedback from people about just how  
important it is to have such a facility on the ground floor/basement -  
ie just how much is that a consideration in a new, purpose-built  
building? I know of many places (here included) where advanced  
microscopes are NOT on the ground floor but I'm keen to hear if there  
are locations where that has been a failure or there have been  
unexpected complications etc.

All feedback gratefully received.

Regards,

Adrian Smith
Centenary Institute, Australia