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Laboratory planning

Our clients operate in fast-moving areas of scientific research demanding laboratories which incorporate the latest technologies. As well as requiring practical, efficient and adaptable facilities they must also be aspirational and integrate into well-designed buildings. As the leading laboratory planning specialist in the UK, we engage with our science clients to develop and refine the design vision, strategic options, detailed briefs, concept design and technical detailing.

Our project types include biomedical, chemical, bioengineering, engineering and physics disciplines for research plus diagnostic and clinical research laboratories. Projects under construction or recently completed include Imperial College London鈥檚 Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub, AstraZeneca鈥檚 Discovery Centre (DISC) in Cambridge, MRC鈥檚 London Institute of Medical Sciences, the Royal Free / UCL Pears Building and UCB鈥檚 new Windlesham Campus.

A key aspect of our service is working with the client鈥檚 user representatives to develop suites of laboratories that meets their scientific needs over time. As well as for the scientists that will occupy the new building, the design brief must address the mid-term scientific mission and the long-term institutional requirements. Often working closely with the lead architect, we translate the scientific vision and technical requirements for the design team and communicate the design aspirations and proposals to the scientists.

As large consumers of energy and resources, sustainability and considerations of costs in use are more important than ever. We work with the client to challenge energy use, water consumption and laboratory waste, encouraging the use of low energy systems, equipment, sustainable materials.

We maintain a database of space metrics of UK science buildings and with our detailed personal knowledge of many of the projects recorded, we can utilise the data to benchmark the designs with others in the industry thereby providing further confidence to the client of their project requirements. This has proved to be a valuable resource to clients as a conversational tool as much as for statistical comparison. The database also acts as an evidence-based tool for project decision-makers, enabling them to reduce risk by making more informed considerations.

Laboratory design consulting

With several decades of experience in the science sector, our involvement is strategic, creative and collaborative. We often begin evaluating the existing development, seeking out the top scientific and campus priorities, studying options to rationalise, reorganise and rejuvenate and then communicate the developed vision to the client.

Our most successful projects can often be traced back to robust multidisciplinary feasibility studies that captured our client鈥檚 aspirations, anticipated future requirements and explored alternatives, set against considered project costs and risks.

We also provide independent consultation to clients and contractors on design concepts, laboratory layouts and technical designs. One such example includes acting as the science areas advisor to the main contractor, Laing O鈥橰ourke, during their construction of the Francis Crick Institute.

We are experienced in offering peer review services for clients and contractors, providing an independent and objective 鈥榮econd set of eyes鈥� on their project. These reviews can look at any aspect of the project from base assumptions, appropriate designs, completeness of technical documentation and value engineering alternatives. We understand the sensitivities inherent to a peer review and present our findings openly and constructively.

AstraZeneca Discovery Centre (DISC)

Cambridge, UK

In the role of laboratory planning consultant since the project commenced in 2014, Chris Abell and Bruce Nepp continue to provide services to AstraZeneca. On the 拢750m DISC building, they also assisted architects Herzog & de Meuron and BDP to bring together AstraZeneca鈥檚 small molecule/biologics research and development divisions providing a key point of scientific exchange and collaboration in the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and community.

Here, deep floor plates enable the building to be organised around a Cambridge College-scale central court with the building limited to three stories above ground, providing a human scale for over 2,000 occupants. The large floor plates support transparent laboratory blocks of adaptable modular laboratories surrounded by open write-up, meeting and collaboration spaces.

The porous building encourages collaboration with public circulation through the site and courtyard with science-on-display in street-level laboratories.

The Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Hub

London, UK

For Imperial College London, the 拢90m Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Hub is a new purpose-built facility for life-changing research into new and affordable medical technology, helping people affected by a diverse range of medical conditions. Richard Walder and team provided laboratory design and full engineering services to the Lead Architect, Allies and Morrison. The BREEAM Excellent accredited building incorporates a mixture of laboratory and office space for interdisciplinary, translational research initiatives at the interface of biomedical sciences and engineering.

Planned as generic laboratory layouts until specific research groups were identified during later design and construction stages, the building has proved adaptable incorporating nanotechnology facilities with cleanrooms, musculoskeletal research clinics, dementia research, and other laboratory typologies.

Our response prioritises simple yet effective 鈥榩assive measures鈥�, such as high standards of daylight and efficient MEP systems, before considering more complex and expensive technologies.