5 No-Cost Lab Design Improvements

Innovation is on the rise and the need for lab space will continue its growth trajectory. Scientists are using traditional models in novel ways and leveraging emerging technologies like AI to amplify their research. From drug production to clean and carbon technology, we will begin to see an acceleration in lab space that was not unlike the early progression of computer chip technology. Not only will it move fast, but new disruptive science will be created faster than we can say nanotechnology.

It’s not surprising that many players are looking to invest in lab spaces, often in urban centers with proximity to the talent fostered by academic institutions, a key component of a lab ecosystem. With cost being a premium where the workforce is more available, we can leverage a no-cost strategy when we strategically think about our lab designs.

The following “top 5 list” is a guide to identifying practical strategies that will help make a project successful from inception to operations and throughout the facility life cycle by incorporating more science into less space, reducing utility usage, and using innovative concepts.

#5 – Lab Module Customization

In an ideal world, absolutely everything would be built around the lab module – the building structure, floor-to-floor space, elevators, stairs, support spaces, even the glazing on the windows.? When you design the building around a proper lab module, you can create a space that is safe and operates more effectively. This type of design 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. This also 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? A technique that we often use from our toolbox is to hide or bury columns wherever we can. This can increase your efficiency and eliminate rookie mistakes. The short of it is, if you have to do too much to make an existing building work, you may need to look elsewhere. Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole can cause project costs to rise quickly.

#4 More with Less

Innovative techniques for disruptive science start with your floor plan shape and ratios. Begin by mapping out the required lab and office space. A ratio of 60 percent lab to 40 percent office space is a general recommendation; although start-ups and smaller companies might be closer to a 70:30 breakdown. Open-to-closed lab space sits at a similar ratio of 60:40. However, if you’re considering clean tech, this changes drastically to 20:80 for open-to-closed lab space.

Next, consider what the science might require for bench equipment vs. floor equipment. Generally speaking, these might lean toward 70 percent bench, but the level of automation can shift this considerably in the other direction.

Finally, consider the optimal ratio of wet lab space vs. dry lab that would suit the needs of the majority of potential users.

#3 Balance Support and Open Lab Zones

Place the lab module at the center of every plan and from there you can apply the appropriate ratios of open lab to support lab.

A smart lab design starts on the outside and moves in. When the exterior skin, structure, and lab module are designed in unison, it increases efficiency and enhances safety. These include decisions about the placement of windows and views coordinated with the lab module to take advantage of daylight in a high-performance building, and major equipment such as exhaust fans that easily integrate with the rooftop and will benefit from logical and cost-effective placement.

Consider placing the core in an offset position. While a central core may work well for a typical office building, an offset core may allow for a more efficient lab floor plate and can enhance the safety of the labs.

An overall floor plan with a minimum 50’ depth can enhance design, with the ideal lab depth being 50’ - 55’. This allows for a more efficient use of the total square footage. We like to analyze the total linear feet (LF) of lab bench and equipment zone to the total overall gross square foot (GSF). An exceptional ratio of .15LF/GSF (versus inefficient .13LF/GSF) could mean a gain of 2,000 LF of bench and equipment space in a 100,000 SF lab. Every inch counts in lab planning, so pay close attention to your design layouts.

Ensure that you have a sound structural grid that mitigates vibration. Equipment like a mass spectrometer is incredibly sensitive and small movements from simple footfall traffic can alter results, putting at risk your investment in research, time, and money.

Movement of materials is also key, with supplies coming in and (potentially hazardous) waste leaving the lab. Loading dock bays and connection to vertical transport must be part of a considered building plan, as is movement of materials inside a building, which may include dedicated elevators for materials and people, for example.

#2 Strategic MEP Design

Building owners don’t want to be limited to types of labs based on the capabilities of the infrastructure systems.

At the same time, they can’t afford to accommodate every type of research client. The goal is to strive for balance: designing systems that can accommodate the majority of lab types, aiming to meet the needs of approximately 80 percent of those looking for space. And as noted previously, the science is rapidly changing, so we need to be ready for new science.

Most design teams think in terms of cubic feet per minute (CFM)/SF for their air handling needs. That is great if every science were identical, but that is too general for good design. Think of this for each room and its function. You may be able to recirculate air in some instances with HEPA filtration, and in other areas, you may need very high CFM/SF for material science or nanotech.

With a strategic modular approach, you can add secondary heating and cooling systems, as required, to maintain the space conditions in the lab and support areas in addition to the ventilation airflow being provided. This way, you can add to this system over time, and even as science changes, it is possible you may never need any future capacity upgrades.

We often think of these systems as parts of the tree. The trunk can run vertically very easily, but how far out are your roots and canopy spreading? We all love a grand old live oak, but when it comes to strategic MEP, we need to keep these systems more compact and logical with regard to the layout and lab planning.

A major advantage in effective lab design is the duct/utility loop. Speed-to-market will drive many decisions for lab space. A properly installed duct/utility loop can allow for a shorter construction schedule. With infrastructure and utilities already in place, it is very easy to connect into these systems.

Accommodating key functionality while maintaining clearances and keeping ceiling heights as high as possible are key to smart HVAC design.

• Electrical is the most frequently upgraded utility, so creating a dedicated zone for electrical distribution is a wise choice. The ease of access will make equipment changes smoother and more affordable in the future.
• When coordinating plumbing and piping, be sure to consider multiple floors at a time so waste drains for the floor above aren’t interfering with duct work and wiring for the floor below.
• A major advantage in effective lab design is the duct/utility loop. Speed-to-market will drive many decisions for lab space. A properly installed duct/utility loop can allow for a shorter construction schedule. With infrastructure and utilities already in place, it is very easy to connect into these systems.

#1 Be Technical, but Understand the Big Picture

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 you have to be ready for science that has never been done before. 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 just safety factors.

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. Just don’t forget, you still need those lab amenities such as lab supplies and lab equipment repair vendors, chemical inventory managers, vivarium, freezer farms or cold storage facilities and specialty core lab services.

What’s more, competition for talent is tight, which makes a great facility a key part of recruiting 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.

To sum up, not every ecosystem is a great place for a lab, but lab design can be thoughtful, and cost less than you think. Be strategic and implement these no-cost lab design improvements.

About the Author:?Mark Paskanik, AIA, Fellow 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 25 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.