The lab design industry is enjoying a bit of a “moment” right now. There is certainly an infusion of investment and a keen focus on the life sciences sector, but it goes beyond that, too. We’re seeing that:
- Lab users are becoming more sophisticated, and more demanding of their space
- Developers and investors are getting into the lab business, and bringing with them a focus on delivering a high-quality space to attract tenants
- Scientists are leveraging traditional scientific models in new and innovative ways, replacing a “standard” lab approach with highly adaptable spaces
These trends are pushing lab designers, engineers, and architects to move beyond "business as usual." So, what strategies can you put in place that will see you build an efficient, effective, safe, and most of all, innovative, lab design? Here’s my take on the top five ways to succeed in today’s market.
5. Build an Exceptional Understanding of Your Science
As I mentioned above, it’s fascinating to see that scientists are using traditional models in novel ways and finding new tech to amplify their research. Here are just a few examples of this type of innovation at work.
In the food industry, with efforts geared toward sustainable and plant-based alternatives, one company I’ve come across is using a bioreactor that usually finds a home in a life sciences lab to create a gel pack to absorb moisture in exotic fruit packaging. As different crops have entirely different respiration rates and ethylene production levels, each pack is optimally designed for a specific fruit. Ethylene is a hormone that many fruits and vegetables release, which self-triggers continued ripening and eventually, spoilage. How great is it that this innovation allows for a more dynamic distribution to counter some of our food shortages and keeps our fruit tastier?
With mounting pressure to find solutions in the face of climate change, carbon capture companies are working on creating hydrogen fuel cells that would eliminate the challenge of disposing of lithium batteries. How is it done? A nanocomposite coated membrane is used to simultaneously improve device durability and efficiency. This coating uses a new nanocomposite that augments nanoscale interfacial phenomena to impart proton conductivity at low humidity. The higher ceramic content of the composite further improves gas permeability to increase durability while allowing for thinner membranes for higher device efficiency. To achieve this industry-changing innovation, the design of this lab must adapt. For example, there is a need to store large amounts of hydrogen gas. An elegant and much safer solution is to replace multiple cylinders of gas with an on-demand hydrogen generator that is safer and provides higher quality gas.
And finally, our life sciences colleagues have incorporated 3D printers into their workflow to create identical samples for testing, helping them move - and learn—faster than with sample tissue cultures. What does this look like? Inside of a mold, a grid of larger vascular channels containing living endothelial cells in silicone ink is printed. A self-supporting ink containing living mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is layered into it, via a separate print job. After printing, a liquid composed of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix is used to fill open regions within the construct, adding a connective tissue component that cross-links and further stabilizes the entire structure.
This multidisciplinary approach to science and cross fertilization of thinking means the lab design, engineers, and architects must truly understand the science and be prepared to leverage it in novel ways to create a space that is better for the users. Our job is to build in flexibility so the scientists aren’t constrained, and in fact, may be inspired by their workspace.
4. Step Back and See the Big Picture When Pricing
Through the phases of a project—conceptual design, schematic design, design development, construction documents and so on—project participants tend to be concerned about the cost of each phase or line item. This gives the impression of saving money. However, if you take an overarching perspective, you may see a decision at one stage that has a cascading effect and increases the total project cost. You may think you are saving money, but in fact you have lost value in the project and the cost will be impacted when it is too late.
Conceptual pricing model for the big picture
Take the storage of hazardous materials in a four-story building, for example. A lab building will require a two-hour fire rated Control Area around any hazardous materials storage to maximize the chemical limits allowed by the International Building Code (IBC). This “box” needs structure to support it, which drives a debate about steel vs. concrete. At that stage, one option may appear less costly, but add in the compounding effects on HVAC and MEP, and there is a different story.
Concrete inherently provides you with fire protection. Any Control Area must also be supported by two hours of protection, and this includes the floor slabs, columns, girders and beams. In effect, the whole skeleton of the building needs to also have two hours of fire protection. When teams look at a steel structure, they don't realize the additional costs. Steel cannot resist a fire, therefore you need to add a spray-on fire protection system. Of course, you don't want this exposed in the lab, and now you have to cover all of this material with gypsum wall boards by wrapping all the columns. We think we have it covered at this point, but we just made the building one foot taller by floor because the steel structure is too deep for distribution of utilities above the ceiling. The taller building has more exterior skin, and that can have a dramatic effect on your budget.
Additionally, we may also lose sight of vibration controls in the lab. While there is no “standard” vibration measure for a building, most lab equipment has vibration requirements. Measured in micrometers per second, vibration that isn’t perceived by a human being can affect results and pose a tremendous risk to millions of dollars of research effort. Concrete can also inherently meet this criterion where steel is at a disadvantage.
Looking at the project more holistically, the core, shell, the lab space within it, and the MEP requirements mean greater coordination up front, and a nimble team that communicates often and well. However, the result is lower overall costs and a better outcome for the end user.
3. Design with Humans in Mind
The scientific workforce has changed. The focus on STEM in our education system is attracting more scientists to the field, and as our demographic gets younger, there is demand for space that is more attractive, comfortable, and enjoyable in addition to offering the most sophisticated tech. No more tucking labs away in windowless suburban sprawl. People want to work in walkable communities and urban centers where there are ample amenities like childcare, gyms, and restaurants nearby. And like a restaurant, it’s not just the food, but the ambiance, the furniture, and the lighting that make it a top choice.
What’s more, competition for talent is tight, which makes a great facility a key part of recruitment and retaining a top-notch team. Location also plays a role in ease of supply for lab materials, access to maintenance staff that understand sophisticated equipment, and local academic institutions to partner on research and deliver an annual flock of fresh minds to the workforce.
Biolab, coworking lab space
To sum up, not every ecosystem is a great place for a lab. We need to consider things at both the macro and micro level:
- Strong academic and medical centers within the geography
- NIH grants
- Recruitment/participation of faculty at academic institutions (Stanford, MIT, Northwestern)
- A strong and repeatable talent pool
- Organically growing, meaning your workforce is homegrown and not departing
- Data analytics and machine learning, balanced with a great place to live, work and play
- Greater amounts of diversity: scientific, technical, regulatory, clinical, business, and finance
2. Technical Matchmaking
Yes, I did say in the previous section to focus on the people, but all the natural light in the world won’t make a difference if you don’t meet the technical requirements for labs.
Here’s a controversial thought: consider building in the flexibility needed to cover all of your future bases. Many people assume that making something future proof means a higher budget. And this would be the case if you design something “just in case.” BUT, if you have a good strategy and plan out some key areas that can pivot easily in future, you will actually save money.
Essentially, the advice is to vigorously investigate what you need—and could need. Question it. Stress test it. Play out the scenarios. then make a solid plan. With MEP costs higher than any other aspect of the project, you can save a lot of money if you have a good strategy on the technical side.
How are you planning for a non-traditional scientific model? What if you have a full-room automation system, a bio-engineering space, cell and gene therapy, live cells, and CRISPR? All of this means be ready. The mechanical component is made for safety, but have you effectively balanced the safety with design? To move air in cubic feet per minute (CFM) we may add safety factors or match what has been done in the past. Be sure to balance this with the design to help reduce the overall cost of your project. Put value into your project, not safety factors.
And this brings up to the number one strategy:
1. Put the lab module at the center of everything you do
In an ideal world, absolutely everything is built around the lab module. The building structure, floor to floor space, elevators, stairs, support spaces—even the glazing on the windows.
If you design the building around a proper lab module, it makes everything effective and safe. It determines how people and materials enter the lab cleanly, optimizes workflows, and maintains sight lines. It allows for safe storage and movement of hazardous materials, easy maintenance, and smooth waste disposal. And, as mentioned earlier, this offers the opportunity to ensure a comfortable, enjoyable work environment.
While this all works if you are starting with a blank slate, we don’t live in an ideal world. You may be adapting an existing space to accommodate a lab. This can work too, with careful planning. Start with the entrance to the loading dock and how you get materials and equipment in and out. Within the lab module, can you get an effective, useful design into the space? Will floor to floor height, columns, and narrow spaces impede your designs? The short story is, if you have to do too much to make an existing building work, you should look elsewhere.
It’s certainly an interesting time to be in the business of lab design and build. Challenging assumptions, collaborating at times where, in the past, we may have simply handed over plans, and taking a bird’s eye view of everything from budgets to building facades will help us build the next generation of safe, efficient, and effective labs. I for one, can’t wait to see the results.
About the Author: Mark Paskanik, AIA, is a talented lab planner and licensed architect. With a focus on the lab ecosystem, Mark strives to make each lab successful through a holistic approach of examining the support system of the lab beyond its walls while understanding industry best practices to attract the best and brightest employees. He has over 20 years of experience programming, planning, and designing research facilities worldwide, and in that time, he has planned over 20 million square feet of laboratory projects ranging from wet lab to dry lab with specialties in BSL, GMP, and vivaria. Mark is a member of Labcompare's Editorial Advisory Board.