The existing space for the renovation was underused high bay spaces and racquetball courts with a low floor-to-floor height mezzanine level. These existing conditions provided unique challenges to the overall project. RDG’s design of the REACH laboratory was to balance current specific research needs with future flexibility. Current programmed research needs required specific spaces with some unique spatial requirements and locating them within the high bay space was key to the overall design and function. Within these spaces, care was taken to allow the space to be modified as needed to fit the ever-changing research needs.

The Physical Activity in Health Promotion suite offers several inclusive features, including spaces specially designed for light and sound sensitivity and family restrooms, a child restroom, an adult changing station and a separate mother’s room. RDG's design also incorporates gender-neutral restroom facilities throughout.

The result was functional and flexible research, training, wet laboratories, graduate student workspace, offices and support spaces for the Midlands Sexual Health Research Collaborative, the Physical Activity in Health Promotion Lab and the Sports Medicine and Biomechanics Research Lab.