flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Preserving Edison's "Corporate" R&D Lab in West Orange, N.J.

Preserving Edison's "Corporate" R&D Lab in West Orange, N.J.

Preservationists, community leaders, and corporations combine to save Thomas Edison's most productive laboratory, in West Orange, N.J.


By ROBERT CASSIDY, EXECUTIVE EDITOR | March 21, 2019

In 1997, I wrote an 8-page report, "Preserving a National Technology Treasure" (attachment), describing efforts by Square D Company, Groupe Schneider NA, community groups, the U.S. National Park Service, and historic preservationits to save Thomas Edison's most productive lab, in West Orange, N.J., where he and his research team developed more than half of his total 1,093 patents. It was published in R&D (Research & Development) Magazine in 1997.

 

Click image for full article.

 

I'm happy to say that the lab was completely restored and has been prospering under the watchful eye of the National Park Service. You can visit the Thomas Edison National Historic Site from 10 a.m. EASTERN, Wednesday to Sunday.

In February 2019, I returned to West Orange to report on the effort to convert Edison's storage battery factory into 279 apartments and 21 penthouse units for the Spring (May) issue of Multifamily Design+Construction magazine.

 

 

Related Stories

Laboratories | Apr 15, 2024

HGA unveils plans to transform an abandoned rock quarry into a new research and innovation campus

In the coastal town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., an abandoned rock quarry will be transformed into a new research and innovation campus designed by HGA. The campus will reuse and upcycle the granite left onsite. The project for Cell Signaling Technology (CST), a life sciences technology company, will turn an environmentally depleted site into a net-zero laboratory campus, with building electrification and onsite renewables.

Laboratories | Apr 12, 2024

Life science construction completions will peak this year, then drop off substantially

There will be a record amount of construction completions in the U.S. life science market in 2024, followed by a dramatic drop in 2025, according to CBRE. In 2024, 21.3 million sf of life science space will be completed in the 13 largest U.S. markets. That’s up from 13.9 million sf last year and 5.6 million sf in 2022.

Sustainability | Mar 21, 2024

World’s first TRUE-certified building project completed in California

GENESIS Marina, an expansive laboratory and office campus in Brisbane, Calif., is the world’s first Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE)-certified construction endeavor. The certification recognizes projects that achieve outstanding levels of resource efficiency through waste reduction, reuse, and recycling practices.

Adaptive Reuse | Mar 7, 2024

3 key considerations when converting a warehouse to a laboratory

Does your warehouse facility fit the profile for a successful laboratory conversion that can demand higher rents and lower vacancy rates? Here are three important considerations to factor before proceeding. 

University Buildings | Feb 21, 2024

University design to help meet the demand for health professionals

Virginia Commonwealth University is a Page client, and the Dean of the College of Health Professions took time to talk about a pressing healthcare industry need that schools—and architects—can help address.

Urban Planning | Feb 5, 2024

Lessons learned from 70 years of building cities

As Sasaki looks back on 70 years of practice, we’re also looking to the future of cities. While we can’t predict what will be, we do know the needs of cities are as diverse as their scale, climate, economy, governance, and culture.

Laboratories | Feb 5, 2024

DOE selects design-build team for laboratory focused on clean energy innovation

JE Dunn Construction and SmithGroup will construct the 127,000-sf Energy Materials and Processing at Scale (EMAPS) clean energy laboratory in Colorado to create a direct path from lab-scale innovations to pilot-scale production.

Laboratories | Jan 25, 2024

Tactical issues for renovating university research buildings

Matthew Plecity, AIA, ASLA, Principal, GBBN, highlights the connection between the built environment and laboratory research, and weighs the benefits of renovation vs. new construction.

Laboratories | Jan 22, 2024

Speculative vs purpose-built labs: Pros and cons

Hanbury's George L. Kemper, AIA and R. David Cole, AIA share the unique advantages and challenges of both spec. and purpose-build labs.

University Buildings | Jan 18, 2024

Houston’s Rice University opens the largest research facility on its core campus

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the 251,400-sf building provides students and researchers with state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms, offices, and a cafe, in addition to multiple gathering spaces.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

Laboratories

HGA unveils plans to transform an abandoned rock quarry into a new research and innovation campus

In the coastal town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., an abandoned rock quarry will be transformed into a new research and innovation campus designed by HGA. The campus will reuse and upcycle the granite left onsite. The project for Cell Signaling Technology (CST), a life sciences technology company, will turn an environmentally depleted site into a net-zero laboratory campus, with building electrification and onsite renewables.




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021