To elevate the Materials Science program at California Institute of Technology (Caltech), CO Architects designed the Faber Lab & Office for professor Katherine Faber, Ph.D., and the university’s Faber Research Group. This organization studies ways to strengthen brittle materials and specializes in the energy-related applications for ceramics. Thermal-barrier coatings and porous solids for filtration are two primary areas of research.
The project involved customizing a space for Dr. Faber’s group on the third floor of Caltech’s Keck Laboratories Building. The program included three offices for faculty and students, ADA-compliant restrooms, and a 1,480-square-foot wet lab. This lab tests materials’ structural and mechanical properties at temperatures ranging from -50°C to 1700°C. The testing process involves probing at micrometer and nanometer scales using 2D and 3D visualization techniques, including synchrotron-based characterization methods, specifically X-ray computed tomography, coupled with small-angle X-ray scattering and various microscopies.
Additionally, Faber Research Group analyzes fossils, art works, archaeological relics, and archival materials as part of its research on materials science and engineering.
Dr. Faber collaborated with CO Architects and MATT Construction throughout the process. One particular priority was designating a specially equipped area for working with mercury. Further, removal of existing ductwork through the roof created an opportunity for a skylight, bringing natural light into the windowless laboratory.
Describing the lab and offices, Dr. Faber summarized, “My students and postdoctoral fellows now have the luxury of working in high quality, optimized, and beautiful space.”
