In our experience, open plan offices with 7.2m grids and above are best suited to flexible lab conversions as these enable a wide range of bench configurations, larger equipment, subdivision into smaller rooms, as well as compliant installation of future MBSCs (microbiological safety cabinets) and fume cabinets.
In Cambridge and Oxford for example (two of the UK’s main life science hubs), demand for labs now outstrips available supply by nearly a hundred to one.Existing labs are increasingly not fit for purpose, incompatible with new science, technology, or regulations, or are simply in poor condition.. Supply-chain issues that are also impacting the wider construction industry, such as a shortage of materials or skilled labour, and which are increasingly competing against other major global challenges such as climate change or the housing crisis..
Lab projects that are relatively complex, with key issues including compliance (quality, safety, environment, permitting), difficulty in predicting the future (science, technology, sales forecasts), multiple stakeholders, and projects that require significant coordination during design and construction.. To solve this mounting challenge we need a solution that can deploy labs at speed..Rapid Deployment with Fast Lab.Maximise Lab Design with Fast Lab.
Fast Lab connects decisions on science and technology to the lab design, cost, programme, and key business metrics.Design Configurator.
A design configurator uses codified rules and libraries of components to rapidly generate coordinated and compliant designs.
Rapid iteration of lab design.This integration itself will not leave the scope unchanged, the scope and concept will require adaption..
The question is how we use this emergence to the advantage of the project and the recipients of its value.The selected approach to Basic/Scheme Design and Detailed Design will impact the project’s ability to deliver the project intent and optimise value.
This includes the way the work is planned and the way organisations are contracted and integrated..In my next post, I will discuss Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and how value can be delivered and efficiencies derived from its application.
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