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Minimizing Risk: Strategies for Design and Construction
Laboratory design and construction teams can minimize risk—and improve project outcomes—by embedding proactive risk management strategies, clear communication, collaborative culture, and advanced planning tools into every phase of a project.
Renovating Laboratories: Key Concerns and Challenges in Transforming Existing Spaces
Laboratory renovation offers sustainability and cost advantages over new construction but poses complex challenges—including structural limits, MEP upgrades, safety compliance, and stakeholder coordination—that require careful planning and collaboration to create flexible, high-performing research spaces
Fire Safety Concerns in Laboratory Design
Fire safety in laboratories requires holistic, intentional design that integrates code compliance, hazard mitigation, resilient infrastructure, and support for staff preparedness to prevent, contain, and respond to incidents while protecting people, research, and operations
Science for Everyone: Moving Beyond ADA in Lab Design
Achieving true inclusivity in lab environments means going beyond ADA compliance to consider the full spectrum of human abilities—both visible and invisible—by integrating accessibility into the design process from the outset, with empathy guiding decisions rather than just code requirements
Rebar Collapse Halts Work on University’s Engineering Lab Expansion
A structural rebar and post-tension cable collapse at the University of Victoria’s $89.6 million Engineering and Computer Science expansion site caused a temporary road closure and raised safety concerns, though no injuries were reported and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and impact on the project timeline
Designing Against the Clock: How Isotope Half-Life and Chemistry Shape Radiopharma Facility Design
The unique time-sensitive nature of radiopharmaceuticals—driven by the physics of radioactive decay—shapes every facet of facility design, offering lab planners, architects, and lab managers detailed guidance on how to align site selection, workflow layout, infrastructure, and safety systems
Right Idea, Wrong Building: Navigating the Unintended Consequences of USP <800> Compliance
When designing a compounding pharmacy, failing to assess a building’s structural, mechanical, and electrical feasibility before committing can lead to costly obstacles to USP compliance
Grow Without Building: Labs Embrace Smarter, Scalable Upgrades
The U.S. life sciences real estate sector is shifting from expansion to optimization, as companies respond to slowed leasing and rising biomanufacturing demand by investing in low-cost upgrades and smarter space utilization rather than new construction, all while preparing for future flexibility and scalability
Strategic Renovation: Updating a QC Lab to Meet Rising API Demands
A recent renovation of a quality control laboratory offers a useful case study in addressing common lab challenges—modernizing outdated infrastructure, improving workflow efficiency, supporting GMP compliance, and enabling future scalability—all while maintaining operations through phased construction and close collaboration with lab users
Navigating the International Building Code’s “New” Requirements for Higher Education Laboratories
Recent updates to the International Building Code, including the introduction of Section 428, allow higher education laboratories to exceed previous hazardous material limits while maintaining Group B occupancy, offering greater design flexibility and alignment with modern lab practices without compromising safety or compliance