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Warwick Imaging Facility

Specific design considerations

bulletEach imaging workstation must be maintained in "real" darkness and at constant, controlled temperature
bulletPersonnel access in darkness to avoid disturbing ongoing experiments
bulletAdjacent office area for analysis computers, as close as possible to the cameras to allow easy access for liquid nitrogen, power and data cables
bulletIncubators and laminar flow hood to maintain and manipulate biological samples, usually outside the imaging room to avoid light and heat leakage
bulletEach circadian rhythm experiment can necessitate a week of continuous imaging
bulletPlant samples can be exquisitely sensitive to light

Plan (mm)

DarkSuVSml01.gif (73625 bytes)

Notes

bulletLarge bench in dark room 1 can house a complete imaging system, including computers.
bulletData collection area houses all other computers, printer and liquid nitrogen tanks; two skylights for natural light
bulletOne microscope each in dark rooms 1, 2 and 3; there is sufficient space for ancillary equipment (e.g. macro imaging chamber) in each room
bulletTwo service holes per inner dark room provide cable access
bulletAccess route minimises light exposure of inner dark rooms, even when their doors or illuminated incubator doors are opened
bulletLarge rear door allows easy equipment access but requires careful light-proofing
bulletEach room has independent temperature control (+/- 1C in inner dark rooms), with temperature alarm in data collection room
bulletVentilation must be sufficient to cope with liquid nitrogen venting
bulletAll internal walls except data collection painted matt black; floor is light coloured to aid navigation
bulletAll doors fitted with rubber and/or brush seals to aid light-proofing
bulletStrip lighting for maintenance with switches at head height
bulletGreen ambient safe lighting on pull switches, from filter-wrapped low-power fluorescent lights (sold as wardrobe lights) at ceiling level
bulletWork surface lighting from filtered low-power bulbs in desk lamp housings

Design team:
Andrew Millar, Dennis Jones, Bob Chamberlain, Paul Goode (Biol. Sci.)
Steve Walker and colleagues (Estates)

We are very grateful to the University of Warwick for funding this building

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