Hello
I always prefer the basement for microscopy facility. In the basement or ground floor you will not have floor vibration issue and also it provides light proof if you would like to do lifetime imaging. Otherwise, you have to hang curtains, etc., to cover the light leak. First floor is ok, all other floors are not ok because of vibration of the floor if someone hammer the wall the confocal scanner will go crazy.
Right now our center is in the ground floor (13 years) and we are planning to move to the new building ( more space!!)in the basement in another two years.
You may miss the daylight but it's good for the microscope system if it is protected well regarding all the water leaks, etc. 
Hope this helps.

Ammasi Periasamy, Ph.D.
Director, Keck Center for Cellular Imaging (KCCI)
Professor of Biology and Biomedical Engineering
Biology, Gilmer Hall (064), McCormick Rd
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Voice: 434-243-7602 (Office); 982-4869 (lab)
Fax:434-982-5210; Email:[log in to unmask]
http://www.kcci.virginia.edu
************************
Workshop on FRET Microscopy, March 9-13, 2010
http://www.kcci.virginia.edu/workshop/workshop2010/index.php
*************************

> 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
>

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