The square bronze-colored key looks like it could fit any door in any building on campus, unless you're willing to risk pattern lock by examining it closely. You worked with department facilities to pattern it, choosing a design that was the simplest to make while still functioning, as that made the most logical sense.
You put the key in the lock but don't turn it. A violet flash, nearly invisible in the harsh fluorescent lighting of the hall, lets you know that the door is no longer protected. The doorknob trembles and then turns on its own.
Let's Get to Work
Like your office, your lab used to belong to Dr. Blankenship. You hoped his lab would have supplies you could re-purpose. Unfortunately, he was one of those professors who hadn't done much research after getting tenure, so hadn't kept his lab up-to-date. His protection patterns have long ago twisted into uselessness, and a water leak at some point turned a collection of books into a lump of mildewed pulp.
You spent your first days cleaning out the useless items and taking stock of what remained. Now you're ready to set up the lab to support how you'll approach your research.