Laboratory Build Journal / Part 01

The Starting Space

How an unused basement shower became the setting for a proposed independent botanical laboratory.

Publication note: Historical construction account and technical interpretation. Approximate dimensions and equipment details have not been independently audited. Diagrams are reconstructions, not as-built certification.

Founding edition · November 2026 · Part 01 of 05

The original tiled shower space, photographed before the build
● ORIGINAL BUILD PHOTOGRAPH   /   The original tiled shower space, photographed before the build
The original basement setting and available service space
● ORIGINAL BUILD PHOTOGRAPH   /   The original basement setting and available service space

Open Cannabis Research began with an unused basement shower, not a conventional research facility. The approximately 4 × 4-foot tiled area, with roughly 6.5 feet of height, offered a compact place to establish an enclosed plant-observation environment.

The available basement dehumidification, ventilation pathway and electrical access made the space worth investigating. These were site-selection considerations, not proof that the room was ready for research.

What the space needed to accomplish

The design had to fit a compact enclosure, allow routine access for inspection, separate electrical connections from potential water exposure, and support repeatable environmental observations. A modular enclosure was preferred over a permanent room conversion because it allowed components to be examined, repositioned, and replaced.

Conceptual relationship between the existing tiled space and the enclosed research area
Conceptual relationship between the existing tiled space and the enclosed research area. Reconstructed explanatory diagram; not a surveyed as-built drawing or certified safety plan.

From available space to experimental environment

Choosing a location is only the first step. An experimental environment must also be characterized: air temperature and humidity, light placement, ventilation, water handling, sensor location, and operating stability all matter. The build therefore proceeded as infrastructure development rather than an immediate experiment.

What remains uncertain

The approximate room dimensions were supplied during planning and have not been independently surveyed. Ventilation performance, support loading and the suitability of the final electrical arrangement require documented checks. The project will not treat an assembled installation as a validated laboratory.

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