Empowering Innovation through Flexible Design in Research & Development Facilities
By: Verrick Walker, Ph.D., Science & Technology Director, Principal, Page Southerland Page
University of Massachusetts Lowell Trinity Innovation Lab Fitup.
Image trentbellphotography
Flexible design is non-negotiable when it comes to laboratories. Search the term on Google, and you will find anywhere from 1700 to 250,000,000 entries. A random sampling of those articles readily reveals that, next to safety, flexibility is a major concern when creating successful laboratory environments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, National Institutes of Health’s Design Requirements Manual, National Research Council’s Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, and Guidelines for Laboratory Design, among other recognized industry standards, dedicate entire sections to the subject, providing specific recommendations for ensuring flexibility within research facilities. Given, however, the higher initial costs of constructing and operating flexible laboratories, it is fair to ask, what is flexibility, and is the additional investment justified?
Flexibility Drivers
An underlying assertion about the need for flexible laboratories is the notion that research is constantly changing, and therefore the physical space in which it occurs must be able to adapt readily to that change. Within this calculus, it is helpful to understand the nature of the changes. In other words, what’s driving the need for flexibility? There are four main factors—namely: function, processes and technologies, size and scale, and space.
Function. A change in function means doing something different—for example, modifying rodent space to support fish or amphibian models. The function of the research has changed, but with an adaptable layout, minimal redesign, and reconstruction are necessary in order to accommodate the new use.
Process and Technology. A change in process means that the nature of the research remains the same, but a different approach is required. A new process could involve changes in research procedures or techniques that need adjustments in the facility’s design. This factor goes hand-in-hand with technology because we often see processes evolve with the emergence of new, more efficient, and effective technology.
Size and Scale. Growing the operation to do more is perhaps the most basic kind of change. Flexibility allows for scalability, whether it involves expanding a particular project or accommodating multiple types of research within the same facility.
Pace. How often and quickly the work changes is the last factor. Laboratories needing to develop several prototypes in a month have very different needs for flexibility than long-term experiments running continuously for 12 months.
These factors frequently operate concurrently and can be addressed through similar measures. It is also important to remember that not all environments will equally benefit from flexibility. According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, private research companies physically modify approximately 25 percent of their laboratories each year. Academic institutions typically reconfigure 5 to 10 percent of their laboratories annually. Specialty testing conducted with robots generally requires consistent protocols and static setups to ensure accurate results in clinical settings, and movable furniture and systems offer no particular advantage. Understanding the primary functions and near- and long-term goals of the research program is critical in determining the worthwhileness of the investment in flexibility for particular applications.
The University of Texas at Dallas Bioengineering and Science Building, Dallas, TX
Image Credits: Nick Merrick © Hedrich Blessing 2016
Achieving Flexibility
The design of a laboratory will vary based on multiple considerations, including the kind of work; for example: computation or experimental, workflows and procedures, regulatory compliance requirements, equipment needs, the types of hazardous materials being handled, whether the facility is being renovated or constructed ground-up, and even whether the space is leased or owned. Yet, achieving flexibility in any laboratory environment largely centers on a handful of building elements and systems, including space, furniture, infrastructure, and chemicals. The consensus among the aforementioned industry standards is that modular planning, in which a single generalized laboratory unit constitutes the fundamental building block, is the recommended framework for organizing these systems. The module delineates the basic components of the laboratory units, including spatial geometries, structural bays, circulation elements, equipment, furniture, and utilities/services. This building block can be replicated, combined, and modified as required to meet the specific programmatic needs of the range of required research spaces.
Space. Whether preparing tissue culture samples in a biosafety cabinet or simulating the same on a computer, the people and machines performing these tasks occupy physical space. Having flexible space that supports a wide range of research activities, protocols, equipment, and instrumentation can help to recruit and retain top-notch researchers. In addition, appropriateness and adequacy of space is a standard evaluation criteria for many grant programs. Designing facilities to anticipate National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other agency requirements will enable enterprises to pursue and win external funding in support of research initiatives. For academic institutions, planning and designing laboratories according to commercial industry guidelines and best practices, which often differ from academic institutional design standards, can facilitate the establishment of sponsorships and collaborations with outside business partners.
Furniture. Casework and equipment systems also impact flexibility. While flexibility is highly desirable, movable laboratory furniture and adjustable laboratory equipment tend to have higher first costs than conventional fixed components. In addition, movable systems utilize proprietary components requiring service contracts and parts from a single supplier. Understanding where the real flexibility needs to be and using a mix of fixed and movable laboratory furniture can help manage cost and maintenance. Working with vendors to understand laboratory casework and equipment options and availability, particularly considering recent supply chain challenges, can reduce the potential for selecting soon-to-be discontinued or obsolete systems that are unserviceable and/or for which replacement components are difficult to obtain or no longer available.
Infrastructure. Building utilities and services plays a major role in enabling flexibility. Delivering power, gases, data, and other utilities using an overhead grid system and plug-and-play fittings/connections greatly enhances the reconfigurability and convertibility of spaces, allowing benches, desks, and equipment to relocate with minimal renovation. Running utility mains in service corridors, with manifold connections in ductwork and piping with isolation valves and dampers, can facilitate maintenance access outside of the laboratory and improve safety and serviceability.
In addition to a broad selection of connections for utilities to support multiple layouts, flexibility means having various capacities to support different research programs. If the systems in the facility are planned without considering the range of computational, experimental, testing, and clinical activities that characterize contemporary research environments, then all downstream components—from air handlers to chillers to transformers—will not be properly sized. Successfully delivering adaptable heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to accommodate future needs requires coordinated solutions that work in conjunction with the space program and research mission. Optimizing once-through outdoor ventilation in laboratory spaces to meet institutional and regulatory ventilation and pressurization requirements can be challenging in buildings with multiple mixed programs.
Chemicals. Another critical consideration related to flexibility is the hazard management system. Chemical handling and storage protocols will differ across research areas based on utilization density, impacting the design of the building and the site. Employing a just-in-time management system can enhance the safety of personnel and reduce the amount of higher-cost hazardous space in the building and, correspondingly, the building systems/infrastructure (e.g., chemical fumes hoods, IIB2 biosafety cabinets, once-through air, air change rates, so on) required to accommodate them. Because these spaces are inherently fixed in composition, reducing their footprint frees up space for other, more fungible programs.
The preceding concepts focus on the building proper but also extend to flexibility in relation to the site. Key planning strategies include:
Providing temporary soft-scape and hardscape zones that can be converted to space for expansion of the building, parking, and equipment yards.
Defining pathways and corridors for extending utilities and connecting to service entries; and
Delineating future drives, routes, and access points for service and delivery vehicles.
These are all important components of an overall approach to minimizing barriers to growth and change as research priorities and needs shift over time.
A well-designed laboratory space should be easy to modify and adapt to optimize a building’s physical space and systems, address research needs, and foster collaboration among research teams. Designing facilities that anticipate and accommodate future changes is essential in fast-paced environments. At the same time, flexibility means different things to different users. The kind of change ultimately drives the measures taken and how best to direct capital expenditures. It is, therefore, important to understand the key factors behind the need for flexibility. Striking a balance between stability and adaptability ensures that research and development facilities can effectively meet evolving needs, optimize resources, and propel scientific innovation. As research progresses rapidly, laboratories designed with flexibility in mind will be able to tackle more complex challenges and shape the future of research and development.