Supporting Laboratory Flexibility with Demountable Walls
Rebekah Gandy, South Central sciences practice area leader, Gensler
In laboratory design, flexibility isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a necessity. As research priorities shift and technologies evolve, lab environments must be able to adapt quickly, safely, and efficiently. That’s where demountable walls come in. These modular, reconfigurable systems are redefining lab design by providing a sustainable, future-ready solution that supports operational agility without the downtime and disruption of traditional construction.
In their webinar, “Supporting Laboratory Flexibility with Demountable Walls,” Gensler’s South Central sciences practice area leader Rebekah Gandy and San Francisco/Bay Area science leader Fannie Cheung offered actionable guidance to support lab managers, scientists, and facility planners in making well-informed decisions. This webinar originally aired during Lab Design’s Flooring & Walls Digital Conference on June 26, 2025. Click here to view the video of this webinar, as well as the other three webinars in this series.
“Demountable walls are basically modular components that are reconfigurable. That means you can move and reconfigure, take them down without significant demolition,” said Chung. Compared to traditional metal stud and gypsum board construction, demountable wall systems allow labs to be reorganized in response to new equipment, processes, or safety needs—sometimes over a single weekend.
This level of flexibility is invaluable, especially in environments where research downtime has a real financial impact. “Time is money,” emphasized Gandy. “What this really does is reduce that timeframe [for reconfiguration], and is, in our opinion, well worth investing in.”
For architects and planners: building in flexibility from day one
Fannie Cheung, San Francisco/Bay Area science leader, Gensler
For project teams, implementing demountable systems begins with planning. Demountable walls require structural support above the ceiling and a thoughtful layout of utilities like gas, electrical, data, and HVAC. Gandy noted, “You're going to be investing a lot of money into your utilities, into the infrastructure, and into the structure itself. Why not invest in something reconfigurable so you can use it again later?”
Chung likened the approach to working with Legos. “Think of them as Lego building blocks,” she said. “But in construction, you would want to standardize and minimize the number of components just to balance costs and reduce the complexity when you move and take down the system.”
Project teams should plan for a fixed grid of structural supports from day one—even if the demountable panels are moved later. In seismic zones, additional bracing may be required. “You do want to provide this structural module already on day one,” Chung explained. “That is why demountables work—but it requires you and your organization to determine what your needs for those utilities are for the future.”
Infrastructure, utilities, and pressurization
Utilities can be routed either through overhead service panels or embedded within the wall panels themselves. Overhead service panels provide long-term adaptability and ease of maintenance. “You’re not going to bother your neighbors,” Gandy noted. “You're able to [make changes] independently.”
When it comes to pressurization, demountables can support BSL-2 and even BSL-3 environments. However, added planning is required. “The wall itself should have no problem,” Chung said. “It’s mostly a ceiling question.” Gasketed ceilings or solid structures above demountable walls may be necessary to maintain airtightness and pressure zones.
For lab managers and end users: know your needs and get involved
Lab managers and scientists should be involved early in the planning process to ensure demountable systems support specific scientific workflows, cleanliness requirements, and future needs. Materials should be selected with chemical resistance and cleanability in mind.
“There is an added level of cleanliness,” said Gandy. “A lot of us are familiar with clean room demountable walls—which are super clean—but you do have options.” Gensler has even developed an internal tool, the Gensler Product Sustainability Standard (GPS), to help clients select sustainable and performance-appropriate materials.
Different manufacturers offer varying levels of configurability, fire resistance, integration of utilities, and seismic performance. “We started with 15 or 20 and shortlisted five different options,” said Chung, describing how they helped a client navigate system selection using a decision matrix that compared everything from warranty and hardware integration to regional sourcing and sustainability.
Another consideration for lab end users is understanding the trade-off between cost and flexibility. While the initial cost of demountable systems may exceed that of traditional drywall construction, they often pay off in the long term by reducing renovation expenses. “The first cost… may be more expensive,” Chung said, “but if you’re looking 10 years from now, every time you need to change something… the return on investment is looking much better.”
Training, maintenance, and real-world application
One major advantage of demountables is that facility teams can often reconfigure them without calling in specialized trades. “We want staff and facilities individuals to be able to do this over the weekend,” Gandy said. However, some manufacturers may require certified installers to maintain warranties, so this is an important detail to clarify early in the project.
As for practical use cases, Gensler’s team highlighted installations in both academic and industry labs, including incubator spaces like JLABS. “Instead of having integrated or demountable systems for all areas, we’re actually using storefront at the centerline to help [with flexibility],” Gandy shared. In another example, storefront systems were combined with integrated panels for utility-heavy zones—an approach that allowed clients to balance cost, flexibility, and performance.
Key takeaways
Demountable walls are a powerful tool in modern lab design, offering:
Space reconfigurability with minimal downtime and disruption
Sustainable construction through reduced material waste and reuse
Cleaner, safer environments with customizable finishes and air handling strategies
Support for future changes with built-in modularity and utility zoning
Improved ROI over time, especially in high-change environments
To make the most of demountable systems, stakeholders should collaborate early and often. “If you don't ever reconfigure the labs,” Chung admitted, “then you likely don't need demountable solutions.” But for the many labs that do, a well-planned demountable wall strategy can save time, reduce costs, and support the fast pace of discovery.
“Supporting Laboratory Flexibility with Demountable Walls” originally aired during Lab Design’s Flooring & Walls Digital Conference. To access this free webinar, and the other three webinars in this event, click here.
