Designing Dual-Use with Precision: Laboratory-Manufacturing-Office Integration at the Eurofins Environment Testing laboratory in Tinley Park

The new Eurofins Environment Testing lab in Tinley Park, IL, combines high-precision testing capabilities with a flexible, modular design that supports both current operations and future growth. All images: Eurofins Tinley Park, Design by Partners by Design, Photos by Tom Harris Architectural Photography

The new Eurofins Environment Testing laboratory in Tinley Park, IL, benefits from a next-generation design that functions equally well as a high-precision testing laboratory and as a business designed for growth. Conceived to accommodate both immediate testing needs and evolving operational demands, the project reflects a careful balance of science, business, and adaptability.

From the outset, the Partners by Design (PBD) team worked with Eurofins Environment Testing stakeholders to address a central challenge: how to create a laboratory that supports current activities while allowing for seamless evolution over time. The solution emerged through a flexible and modular design approach, where each zone is tailored for specific workflows yet can adapt as those workflows change.

Strategic adjacencies among laboratory suites promote collaboration and efficiency, while transparency through glass partitions enhances visibility and connection between teams. Circulation paths for people and materials are clearly defined to support precision work while maintaining clean, organized, and secure environments.

Strategically arranged lab suites and transparent glass partitions enhance collaboration, efficiency, and visibility, while clearly defined circulation paths support precise, organized, and secure workflows.

The planning strategy was rooted in infrastructure flexibility. Laboratory suites were organized around consistent furniture layouts supported by aligned power runs, HVAC drops, and casework blocking.

This consistency allows for equipment to be swapped or phased out over time. Each suite can function independently or as part of a broader modular system, providing the capacity for growth.

The infrastructure and support systems were designed to handle full operational capacity as well as transitional periods, ensuring peak performance under varying workloads.

Key adjacencies between suites were determined by shared infrastructure and safety requirements, aligning with the business operations of Eurofins Environment Testing US. The flow of materials was mapped to reflect real 24-hour delivery and pick up operations.

Lighting systems were programmed for performance and safety. Laboratory zones are illuminated at 5000K providing even, non-directional lighting that supports detailed work. Occupancy and time-based controls allow for energy efficiency for the 24 hour lab operations, while maintaining automatic 100 percent illumination in occupied lab areas for safety compliance.

The Tinley Park facility encompasses approximately 22,000 square feet of laboratory space and an additional 15,000 square feet of office and support areas. Beyond the lab core, thoughtfully designed offices, meeting areas, and amenities reinforce the idea that a laboratory is not only a center of science but also a workplace for collaboration and innovation.

By uniting laboratory precision with adaptable infrastructure and workplace functionality, the Tinley Park facility embodies a forward-looking approach that balances scientific performance with flexibility, safety, and resilience—ensuring Eurofins Environment Testing US’s continued capacity to grow, evolve, and innovate.