Teacher office space should not be located in storage areas for both security reasons and for the health of the teacher. Several successful arrangements for teacher office space include a teacher’s desk in an alcove in the lab/classroom (to indicate clearly that this is the teacher’s space and not student space), a desk area in the prep room (not where chemicals are stored), a separate office space between two lab/classrooms, or in a centralized departmental office.

The diagrams with this article illustrate two possible arrangements of prep/storage spaces. The first is an appropriately-sized prep/storage space located between two adjacent lab/classrooms. A separately ventilated chemical storage room is located at one end, with some tall storage cabinets along the adjacent wall. A central island with space beneath for the storage of lab carts is placed for the purpose of assembling the items needed for specific student investigations or demonstrations. Two areas with counter, base, and wall cabinets, and sinks lining the two opposite walls; a refrigerator, and undercounter dishwasher are provided. This area also has a fume hood that is shared with the adjacent lab/classroom. Lowered sections of counter with file cabinets and computer connections are located on each side. Doors lead directly to the two adjacent lab/classrooms. Each side also has a view window from the prep area into the adjacent lab/classroom.

The second diagram represents a centralized prep/storage area for chemistry. In the final plan for the building, this space serves five lab/classrooms, some of which are immediately adjacent to the prep/storage space and some across the corridor, requiring the teacher to transport materials on a cart from the prep space to the lab/classroom (not an ideal arrangement as noted above). This prep/storage space has been divided into prep, cleaning, staging, storage, and “clean” areas plus a separate and separately ventilated chemical storage room. Again, central counters with space beneath for lab carts allow for the staging and distribution of materials to the various lab/classrooms; two separate prep areas have counters with base and wall cabinets plus locations for a variety of equipment. Both prep areas have sinks. The cleaning area also has a sink and an adjacent dishwasher. Free-standing, adjustable wooden shelving along one wall provides ample space for a variety of glassware and other equipment, and floor space is provided for large equipment which will not fit on shelves. The “clean” area is similar to the teacher desk area in the previous diagram with computer hookups and file cabinets. Both layouts include a safety shower/eyewash, a fire blanket, fire extinguisher, and first aid cabinet.

When designing a new science facility, be sure to include sufficient, well-planned prep/storage space. Science faculty should inventory equipment on hand and plan for additional equipment to be purchased so that appropriate space can be provided for these items. Likewise, an inventory should be made of existing chemicals and other materials to determine which have passed their useful and safe life span or are no longer used in the program (such as the carboy of acetic acid that Johnny’s uncle donated back in 1932); those that fall into this category should be safely disposed of before the new space is occupied.

This article originally appeared in the May 2008 edition of School Planning & Management.