Health and Research Facility Pioneers Collaborative Approach to Medical Science Breakthroughs

 Labs visually connected to circulation zones.

Flinders University recently unveiled its Health and Medical Research Building (HMRB), a state-of-the-art facility designed to foster innovation and collaboration among researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners. To better understand the key features and layout of this cutting-edge building, representatives from Flinders University as well as Architectus, the project's design architect and interior designer, provided insights into the main features of the wet labs, the various types of labs within the building, and how the design accommodates diverse research needs. They also discuss the building’s sustainability measures, digital capabilities, and the significance of visual connections within the space.

Lab Design spoke to Andrew Schunke and Diana Rosenthal, both principals, and Esther Mavrokokki, a senior associate from Architectus, and Flinders University’s Angela Binns, a senior manager of technical services at the College Medicine & Public Health, and Professor Damien Keating, deputy director of Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute. 

Q: Can you please describe the main features of the wet labs? How many wet labs are in the building, and what kinds of labs are they? 

Entry connection to consulting spaces above.

EM: The Health and Medical Research Building (HMRB) comprises 122 labs, excluding support spaces with 900 benches, 100 sink benches, and 250 lineal meters of service spines. These labs include PC2, BC2, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biosciences, Cell Screen, Biodevices, Omics, Microscopy, Eye and Vision, Neurology and Mass Spectrometry. 

Designed with the flexibility to support different workflows, group sizes, and research streams, the Physical Containment Level 2 (PC2) and non-laboratory health and medical research spaces can easily be reconfigured to serve a range of research projects as science and technologies evolve. 

Incorporating consult rooms and write-up work areas, the building can respond to specific research happening within different spaces. A suite of publicly accessed and bookable consult, interview and meeting rooms is located adjacent to the reception point. Rooms of various sizes and functions can accommodate multi-use and different group sizes. There are also non-PC2 labs that are enclosed and dedicated to specific research functions and additional lab support spaces with specialized equipment and technology. 

AB: The research labs and workspaces balance collaborative and individual work needs with a mix of solo and communal spaces. These areas are visually connected to adjacent labs and workspaces, providing external views and natural light. Transparency puts research in view so that passersby can see creativity and science in action. 

Further, the combination of an open-plan layout and enclosed laboratories maximizes shared infrastructure facilities and storage capabilities. There is a dedicated level that encompasses the array of Research Technology Platforms and Tissue Culture Facilities. 

Boardroom and lab connection.

Q: What measures have been taken to integrate sustainable practices within the lab facilities? 

AB: The HMRB had clear sustainability goals from the outset. The project brief provided a framework that integrated sustainability practices throughout all the project phases, from waste management to full occupancy. 

EM: The HMRB embeds a sustainable design with 100 percent renewable energy for electricity supplied by solar panels on campus and supported by wind power from a local South Australian wind farm. The building is orientated to reduce heat load, with the glazed façade rejecting 75 percent of heat from the sun while the louvres balance thermal, shading, and daylighting requirements and provide passive ventilation. Other sustainability measures include RO reject water reclamation and using low-VOC materials for sealants, adhesives, paints, and water-efficient fittings. 

Biophilic design principles are incorporated into key building features, such as the floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize natural light, while the adjoining seating offers respite and landscape views. Extensive planting and green terraces enliven the interior. This is enhanced by the soaring atria that transform into a ‘winter garden’ when the louvres on the façade are closed/opened, automatically sealing the doors on the level shut. Other biophilic elements include organic materials such as leather, timber and stone, lighting design, furniture and finishes in natural forms specified to boost wellbeing. 

The facility aims to achieve WELL and LEED Gold certification for sustainability and wellbeing. 

Active circulation zones connected to labs.

Q: What kind of flexible design features are included in the wet labs? 

AS: All labs have been set out on a simple grid serviced by a ghost corridor to allow flexibility from dedicated enclosed labs to open shared labs and back again with minimal intervention. All service spines are ceiling-hung to adjust equipment and benches below to suit changing requirements. Specialist services bollards were created to service Mass Spectrometry. Services design includes 20 percent spare capacity. 

Q: Is there anything unique or groundbreaking about your facility or the design plan? 

AS: There was an extensive consultation and engagement process with the Cultural Narrative and Indigenous Art Advisory Panel, including Dr Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien, Flinders University’s Senior Kaurna Elder on Campus. This informed our design concept which embeds a cultural narrative and a strong connection to Country that is reflected in the building’s form and laboratory spaces in meaningful ways. 

For example, the building features natural materials and earth tones that mirror the sedimentary layers of local land, and each level is distinguished by a different color palette that corresponds with the multi-colored sand dunes of Rainbow Yarta (Country). 

AB: The building's defining feature is the interconnecting staircases, which promote staff inter-floor circulation, chance interactions, and health. As part of the wayfinding strategy, wellbeing messages have been inscribed on the staircase handrails at both ends of the building. These inscriptions provide facts about wellness, mental well-being, and physical exertion. 

Every level is lined with opportunities for collaboration, including open work zones for workshops, networking functions and socializing; offices and quiet rooms for confidential and focused work; and booths and pods for individuals. The visual connection between these areas and the lab spaces was particularly important in creating a sense of cohesiveness between the research community. 

Flexible and adaptable lab spaces.

Q: The HMRB is the first medical institute in the world to earn a ‘platinum’ rating from WiredScore for its cutting-edge digital capabilities. What kinds of digital capabilities are included in the laboratories? Can you talk a bit about those systems' design and construction process? 

EM: WiredScore’s recognition encompasses various facets of the HMRB, including secure and reliable site-wide digital infrastructure, high-speed internet service, capacity for technological growth, in-building mobile performance, resilience, telecommunications spaces, sizing, access, and protection. The building includes backup fiber entry points and multiple riser pathways, allowing redundancy protection and flexibility to support future technologies. It also enables full mobile coverage to all locations, including storage, plant and loading areas. Extensive monitoring systems are easily supported by the cabling infrastructure, including BMCS Building services monitoring, AQMS air quality management system, CEMS for critical equipment monitoring, and EWMS energy and water monitoring system.  

Q: What sorts of challenges did you encounter during the design/build process, and how did you overcome them? 

Winter garden collaboration spaces and circulation stairs.

AS: The COVID-19 pandemic occurred when we were in the early concept design phase, which halted the project for six months. When the project was re-initiated, we had a ‘soft’ start with fewer team members working through the core project needs to ensure continuity of knowledge across stakeholders and the design team. 

 As the project progressed, it became apparent that the design had to be altered to accommodate more PC2 spaces, so we reverted two cold shell floors to PC2 lab space to meet lab and research space growth needs. This led to an expanded project scope, and more designers were allocated to the project. Another consequence of the pandemic was the inflation of material costs, but through effective communication and collective problem-solving, we were able to maintain the critical components of the original design and achieve cost-saving measures. 

Q: Can you explain the significance of the visual connection between the labs and the rest of the building? 

DK: In the early stakeholder engagement sessions, putting the researchers’ work on display and visual connection was of utmost importance. This stemmed from a research study tour conducted in 2020, the participants included people from Flinders University and Architectus. We traveled to 10 medical research institutes around Australia to assess first-hand the pros and cons of specific design features and layouts in those buildings. One of the key outcomes identified was the importance of natural light throughout space and its ability to provide interconnectedness across spaces. 

DR: Subsequently, a key part of the design brief was to highlight and celebrate the research and researchers within the building—part of this was to ensure a visual connection from the labs out to the view and other workplace settings, as well as into the laboratories. An example of this is the building boardroom, which shares a glass dividing wall with one of the PC2 Research Technology Platforms. People occupying the boardroom can watch the researchers go about their important work and the workings of the spectacular robots whilst seated at the boardroom table. It’s a constant reminder of the important work that’s happening within the building. 

On the flip side, the materiality and forms of the workspaces outside of the labs, especially the timbers and soft furnishings are not only durable but soften the spaces and are comfortable which starkly contrasts with the white containment laboratories, providing researchers with a “change of scenery” and relief from the highly technical and sterile environments.  

Welcoming consultation spaces 

Q: How was the lab manager/researcher's input incorporated into this design plan? Did you meet with lab users in the kickoff meetings or rely on lab managers to collect their staff members' input to relay to you? 

DK: Our researcher stakeholders were central to many aspects of the building design. The tour of many buildings across several Australian states was invaluable and provided an excellent opportunity to identify both favorable and unfavorable design elements. This, combined with the extensive preliminary workshops, identified the needs of researchers where collaboration opportunities and shared facilities were previously limited. 

For example, many researchers were against the idea of open-plan desk areas and preferred a hybrid set-up, they also provided a more granular detailed input on what was essential in the lab spaces. It was only through this consultation that we could accommodate the needs of the current researchers but offer flexibility for future users over the next 50 years. 

HMRB northern façade highlighting the two triple-height winter gardens.

AS: As previously mentioned, the extensive stakeholder workshops with lab users and managers along with findings from the research study tour ensured that the design reflected the needs of the building's end-users. To communicate the form and functionality of the spaces, we used Revit models and virtual reality headsets to immerse the users in their future spaces and continually collaborated with the users through the testing and approval period.   

Q: If a similar facility or program were to look at your facility for inspiration, what do you think they would take away as an example of what they should also implement in their own lab? 

AB: We hope that they’ll recognize the HMRB as an exceptional example of laboratory design that encapsulates contemporary research facility functionality.A combination of enclosed laboratories, specialized infrastructure and open bench spaces. The facility brings the outside in through visual connections both internally and externally with dry lab spaces. And the intrinsic value that natural light in working environments has on the human mind and body. 

DR: That best practice in workplace design and biophilic design principles can deliver outstanding benefits for user wellbeing in clinical environments. Designing spaces that encourage collaboration can advance health and medical research outcomes. And importantly, don’t underestimate the time needed for successful consultations. 

Open flexible lab spaces.