Starting on the Right Path – Strategies for a First Lab Build

Taking a startup from inception in an incubator environment to an independent business is an exciting but uncertain time for a newly formed company. To build out a new production environment, technical professionals must step away from science into the unfamiliar territory of real estate transactions, design, and construction. Likewise, the designer of a new laboratory is probably not a scientist and will rely on the business representatives and laboratory professionals to disclose their vision, goals, processes and other technical details to execute the project. The following strategies can be used to find a common language between the biotechnology company and the designer for a startup planning its first build.  

Assemble the Right Team

The startup team should consist of individuals who know the most about the inner workings of the business and lab processes, understand the future growth and vision of the company, are available to commit their time, and are able to communicate and prioritize the wishes and desires of the growing enterprise. Different viewpoints of the business should be represented; a lab manager will have details about the workflow, supplies, and equipment needed to support production, while an office manager will have a better understanding of the staff and administrative spaces necessary for the business functions.

The design team is typically comprised of designers, engineers, and other consultants, each with a specific skill to complete the construction plans. The lead designer will help identify experts required to complete the project. For example, a cost estimator is not required but may be desirable to confirm the budget during design rather than wait for bids on the final documents.

Establish and Document Goals

Once the team members are committed to the project, the first step should be to confirm the project scope, including available area, schedule, and budget.  The schedule should be developed to include time for meetings, client review, and permitting. The budget will help the designer make choices about materials and building systems. Once goals are agreed upon, write them down and use them as a reference throughout the project.

Create a Realistic Program

Before drawing a floor plan, the designer must develop a program: a list of functional spaces, their size and relationship to each other. The program should be realistic and detailed enough to begin planning. The total area of the program should fit within the space available if it is a renovation. It should also correspond with any previously determined area allocation or budget definition.

Use Allowances for Unknown Scope

For a renovation or build-out, the designer will collect information on the existing building and its infrastructure. Depending on the age of the facility, not all requested items may be available. In the case of missing drawings or technical data on utilities, an alternate means of obtaining the data will be needed. Establishing an allowance at the beginning of the project will help absorb some of the costs that may not be identified until the scope of the project is more developed. For instance, if additional equipment on the roof is required for air handling, drawings of the structural system will confirm if the added weight causes a problem.  If the drawings aren’t available, the engineer will have to create the information based on visual observation. The allowance will cover the costs and keep the project moving forward while this investigation happens.  

Document Laboratory Process

In preparation for meetings with the designer, the lab manager should document the work processes, material flow, and interactions with personnel inside and outside of the lab workspaces, considering current conditions and future needs. The designer will use this knowledge to map out the plan relationships, ensuring critical adjacencies are met. 

Identify Equipment for Each Functional Space

Existing equipment and new equipment to be purchased should be identified. Information about equipment should be specific, indicating the size and placement in the environment. A small centrifuge may set on a countertop and need a portion of bench space or a larger unit may set on the floor. An analyzer may require a computer workstation to operate it; without this information the necessary benchtop space won’t be accounted for.

Inventory Chemicals

The use of some types of chemicals, like flammables and corrosives, presents hazards to individuals and is controlled by building codes. Inevitably, the local building authority will require a list of chemicals and the quantities on hand. The designer will use this information to identify any special planning limitations needed.

Rely on Vision to Create Branded Space

As the project develops, the designer will make material selections and layout the plan based on the unique characteristics and brand identity of the business. In addition to looking and feeling, the visioning should consider how visitors interact with the environment. Will there be a visual display of the laboratories to see, or will the science be kept secure and limited to authorized staff? Will accolades and achievements be on display? The answers to these questions result in space requirements and relationships between the lab and public areas.

Test Options

Once the program is approved the designer will develop conceptual floor plans with the functional spaces blocked out and arranged as described. Developing two or three options capturing the program will reveal broken relationships and priorities. Afterall, the program is only a list, but a conceptual plan or blocking diagram is a visual representation. Talking through the concepts will help the team prioritize and rule-out non-working solutions.

Use Visualization to Review Documents

The program, lab practices, administrative functions, and vision come together in a final set of documents that will be executed by a construction team. Ensuring the goals are represented correctly can be difficult for individuals with no experience reading such plans. A designer can represent those plans in three-dimensional renderings, or virtual walk throughs allowing construction novices to interact with the space and confirm the look and feel is captured before it is built. 

The budget and schedule established through goals at the beginning of the project should be attainable when the right team is assembled, all relevant information is gathered, and the solution is tested and represented in an accessible way.