From Office to Lab: Converting Spaces for an Innovative Future
The country has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the demand for laboratory space in recent years. At the same time, the lasting effects of the pandemic, marked by a widespread transition to remote work, have caused a boom in unoccupied urban office buildings. The practice of repositioning vacant office space—while not mainstream—is becoming increasingly appealing, given the opportunity to use prime real estate that may not have previously been within budget. In addition, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and the ability to give new life to outdated or vacant buildings add to the appeal.
Classroom at Texas A&M University Intercollegiate School of Engineering Medicine. Credit: Joe Aker, Aker Imaging
However, many hurdles are associated with repositioning an office building, especially when dealing with the complexities of laboratory equipment. With the right approach and experienced planning, repositioned laboratories can thrive as hubs of innovation and discovery, allowing researchers to push boundaries, experiment, and advance their respective fields.
Repositioning vs. building new
First, consider why an organization should consider repositioning an existing office space rather than building from the ground up. Three main factors are driving these decisions:
Location: Similar to buying a house, location is key. It can impact the type of research conducted in the area due to zoning regulations, access to skilled workers, operating costs, and more. Finding a strategic location near a research institution, university, or technology hub is essential for a laboratory. Organizations may find a location but cannot build from the ground-up, or the desired location is too expensive. Repurposing becomes part of the conversation when the site is prime and the building on the site isn’t being utilized.
Cost: Ground-up construction cost in top life science markets range from $675 per square foot to $1,200 per square foot. While the condition of the building, specific project needs, and other unforeseen physical problems can cause additional expenses, the ROI is often exponential. Not to mention, using existing building infrastructure to accommodate a high-functioning and specialized facility leads to shorter construction timelines and overall savings.
Sustainability: Repurposing existing structures has huge sustainability implications. Reducing the need to demolish and rebuild structures minimizes an organization’s carbon emissions and saves tons of concrete from ending up in landfills. Similarly, old buildings that don’t meet today’s energy code can be replaced with energy-efficient materials. For example, glass buildings generate a lot of heat from direct sunlight, which in turn causes air conditioning to work in overdrive to cool the building down. When repurposing a building, accounting for these energy considerations creates a more resilient, sustainable, and adaptable built environment.
The 17th-floor board room and multifunction space at Texas A&M University Intercollegiate School of Engineering Medicine. Credit: Joe Aker, Aker Imaging
While these are significant drivers, it’s also important to understand that not all buildings are created equal. If the condition of an existing building is far beyond what it takes to upgrade the facility, it may no longer be cost-effective or too time-consuming to proceed.
Evaluating a space individually and understanding the project goals when designing these facilities is crucial for success. Things like floor-to-floor/ceiling height, load capacity, structural design and vibration stability, MEP systems, fire and safety conditions, and expansion opportunities are essential to understand for conversions.
Office spaces redefined
Exterior of Texas A&M University Intercollegiate School of Engineering Medicine. Credit: Joe Aker, Aker Imaging
It’s important to note that while repositioning a space has many benefits, the process is neither simple nor a common practice (for this very reason.) The Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) is a prime example of transforming an office space into a beacon of ingenuity that focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship. Developed in partnership between the Texas A&M Colleges of Engineering and Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital, EnMed is located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center. A modernization tour-de-force, EnMed required extensive renovation to two connected structures—a two-story former bank built in 1952 and a 17-story office tower built in 1962.
The exterior is now energy-efficient using a glazed curtain wall system with stone and metal panels. The inside offers large, reconfigurable learning studios, flexible classrooms, multidisciplinary labs, and glass-enclosed collaboration spaces.
Serving EnMed’s engineering curricula is a signature 2,471-square-foot maker space with reconfigurable tables, 3D printers, and a convenient machine shop. A floor-to-ceiling glass-partition system provides clear views of the innovation happening inside. One of the original bank vault doors is embedded in the glass—a “vault of ideas” bridging the building’s past and future. The building also boasts a café, a 240-seat auditorium, conference spaces, multi-disciplinary laboratories, flexible large classrooms, collaboration areas, and several floors of growth space. But the facility’s crown jewel is the 17th-floor board room and multifunction space, designed to attract the brightest students, world-class faculty, and generous donors. Jag Grooms, EnMed Chief of Staff, notes, “Having a building with ample space to grow a new school has provided EnMed with the flexibility needed to foster and expand our academic program and research capabilities. For example, we recently completed the installation of a cutting-edge MRI on the ground floor and are working on the addition of dry lab and computational research space on upper floors.”
Navigating the hurdles of repositioning an existing structure into a modern space often involves uncertainty. For example, the elevators in this building weren’t equipped to transport medical equipment such as gurneys and stretchers. Rather than opting for a straightforward demolition and reconstruction, the team fused two elevator shafts into one and tailored a new, elongated design to accommodate the necessary equipment needed for the new space. Though unconventional, this customization showcases the intricate problem-solving fundamental to these projects. For the same budget, demolishing the same lot and starting over would have resulted in a much smaller building than a fully renovated 17-story complex.
Transforming an office space into a state-of-the-art laboratory is no small task. However, when approached with careful planning, strategic customization, and a commitment to overcoming obstacles, the outcome can be a remarkably complex facility that meets the demands of modern research.
Laura Vargas, AIA, LEED AP, is principal at Page.
