Lab of the Year entries reveal eight current trends As discussed in Part 1 of this article (October, page 1), R&D Magazine’s annual Lab of the Year competition always offers useful information about design trends—including trends illustrated by the projects that are not selected for award recognition. Tips for locating laboratory plumbing risers and stacks In planning a laboratory building, a fair amount of discussion is devoted to some of the basics of the mechanical and electrical systems—where mechanical and electrical rooms and chases or shafts will be located and how large they need to be, for example. Beneath the surface: Better cleanrooms through management A decade ago, when every cleanroom comprised unique, custom-designed and -engineered systems from top to bottom, resolution of technical issues and challenges drove projects.