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.
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
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 55 Laboratory Facility Engineering + EA Firms for 2022
Jacobs, Affiliated Engineers Inc., Burns & McDonnell, and WSP top the ranking of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) laboratory facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 85 Laboratory Facility Architecture + AE Firms for 2022
Flad Architects, HDR, DGA, and Payette top the ranking of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) laboratory facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 90 Construction Management Firms for 2022
CBRE, Alfa Tech, Jacobs, and Hill International head the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 200 Contractors for 2022
Turner Construction, STO Building Group, Whiting-Turner, and DPR Construction top the ranking of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 45 Engineering Architecture Firms for 2022
Jacobs, AECOM, WSP, and Burns & McDonnell top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 19, 2022
2022 Giants 400 Report: Tracking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
Now 46 years running, Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report rankings the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. This year a record 519 AEC firms participated in BD+C's Giants 400 report. The final report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
| Aug 8, 2022
Mass timber and net zero design for higher education and lab buildings
When sourced from sustainably managed forests, the use of wood as a replacement for concrete and steel on larger scale construction projects has myriad economic and environmental benefits that have been thoroughly outlined in everything from academic journals to the pages of Newsweek.
Laboratories | Jul 17, 2022
Renovation is filling the need for life sciences lab space
Three experts from the firm DiMella Shaffer discuss the advantages and challenges of converting existing buildings.
Laboratories | Jun 29, 2022
The "collaboratory" brings digital innovation to the classroom
The Collaboratory—a mix of collaboration and laboratory—is a networking center being designed at the University of Denver’s College of Business.
Museums | Jun 28, 2022
The California Science Center breaks grounds on its Air and Space Center
The California Science Center—a hands-on science center in Los Angeles—recently broke ground on its Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.