Second-floor lab here, with microscopes located less than 75m from a 
mechanical room.  No unexpected complications.  No problems with our 
TEM, but it's used mostly at medium magnification.  We have a pretty 
stable building, but use vibration-isolation platforms in several places 
where that's important (currently under our SEM and a couple of our 
research microscopes).  We're about to get a platform for the confocal, 
as we have our first users doing colocalization this fall, and the 
non-suspended optical table with the little cone-shaped feet doesn't 
provide enough isolation at the highest mag on our instrument.... 
I chaired the building committee, and I was sort of surprised during 
design/construction that the architects seemed completely unable to 
predict building vibrations.  Hallway foot traffic during class changes 
turns out to be far more of a source of vibration than building mechanicals.
Julian

Adrian Smith wrote:
> 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
>


-- 
Julian P.S. Smith III
Director, Winthrop Microscopy Facility
Dept. of Biology
Winthrop University
520 Cherry Rd.
Rock Hill, SC  29733

803-323-2111 x6427 (vox)
803-323-3448 (fax)
803-524-2347 (cell)