Proposed Program

The goal for this program is to establish continuity between interior and exterior spaces that will allow for a healthier and cleaner environment for the TB lab technicians. The current program has two areas, one for microscope work and one for testing TB cultures. The Camp Heads and TB technicians have asked that these areas remain separate, but become enlarged and that a new secure area be added for the storage of medical and TB supplies. For the microscope area it is important that the microscope will receive direct sunlight for certain periods of the day, but is also designed to block out daylight when it is running on solar powered electricity. In the TB culture area the technicians asked for more natural day light and a water area for the cleaning of slides and equipment. Since there is no running water this new water system will be integrated with the roof run off system as a way to capture water without having to carry it to the site. Third, a new area for storage will be added that is not in direct sunlight and can be thoroughly secured. Lastly, as a request by the Global Health Access Doctors an outdoor area where TB sputum samples can be viewed should be created that receives lots of sunlight, but also has shaded areas for the technicians to work under during the hot season (March to May).

The program assumes a maximum of 2 technicians with in the space. A total of one water facility, one storage facility, one microscope area, one TB culture area, and one outdoor TB sputum viewing area will be included

During the design process it was extremely important to have constant contact with KDHW, who will be running the lab and maintaining it, and the TB technicians, who will be using it. After conversations with KDHW staff and the TB technicians day lighting became an extremely important aspect of the design. Not only is it one of the few ways to naturally kill TB bacterium, but specific lighting conditions throughout the different programs housed in the TB lab were needed.

The microscope area needed direct sunlight to run the microscopes, the new storage area should be dark to preserve the supplies, and the TB sputum area should have all day ambient light by which to work.