Ensuring Success in Lab Design and Relocation: Key Strategies and Common Pitfalls

With laboratory relocation project management, the intricacies of proper lab design, fit planning, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) alignment are crucial for successful operations. Whether building a new lab or relocating an existing one, overlooking these elements can lead to significant disruptions.

MEP Plan Alignment Oversight

One of the most frequent oversights in lab relocations is the failure to verify landing site requirements thoroughly. Plans might seem flawless on paper, but practical flaws often emerge during execution.

Example: Issues such as mislabeled gas lines, fittings incompatible with the intended instrumentation, and mismatched replacement receptacles can severely impact the relocation timeline. These missteps necessitate remediation before the site can be occupied, delaying the entire process.

Solution: Conducting engineering walkthrough audits at both the launch and landing sites is critical. These audits ensure that equipment slated for relocation has sufficient clearances for doorways, elevators, and loading docks. The landing site walkthrough should confirm readiness, verifying that gas fittings, electrical connections, and mechanical accommodations are appropriate for the equipment being relocated.

Inadequate Advance Planning for a Laboratory Relocation

Another common issue is the underestimation of the time required for a lab relocation. Often, initial time projections and expectations are overly optimistic, leading to reassessments and delays.

Example: Lab directors may discover inaccuracies in their asset survey, which delays the architectural designs and MEP drawings, subsequently postponing construction and causing a cascading effect on deliverables.

Solution: Hire a Laboratory Relocation specialist with both lab relocation expertise and instrumentation engineering knowledge from the outset. Such a partner understands the complexities of the moving process, the lab's workflow, assets, and operations, ensuring a realistic timeline and smooth transition.

Maintaining Lab Functionality During Relocation

Labs need to continue functioning during a move, a task akin to changing the wheels of a moving car. Failure to plan for uninterrupted operations can lead to significant disruptions.

Example: Labs that rely on internal staff for their relocation require someone with expertise and experience with movers, vendors, certificate of occupancy requirements, and environmental health and safety issues. Additionally, an owner's project manager (OPM), despite being well-versed in project planning, might lack the technical understanding of lab instrumentation and support requirements crucial for successful relocation.

Solution: Again, the importance of partnering with a relocation expert with deep instrumentation engineering expertise cannot be overstated. This partnership ensures that all technical aspects are covered and the lab can maintain functionality throughout the move.

Additional Challenges and Solutions of Laboratory Design and Relocation

Beyond MEP alignment and planning, several other issues can compromise lab design and relocation efforts:

• Misalignment of Business and Science Plans: Ensure that business objectives and scientific needs are harmoniously integrated into the lab design.
• Improper Budgeting: Accurate budgeting is crucial. Engage financial experts to ensure all aspects, including contingency funds, are accounted for.
• Lack of Proper Communication: Establish clear communication channels among all stakeholders to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page.



Lab relocation projects are complex endeavors that require meticulous planning, expertise, and coordination. By addressing common pitfalls such as instrumentation MEP plan alignment oversight, inadequate planning, and the challenge of maintaining functionality during relocation, labs can achieve smooth transitions and efficient operations. Engaging experienced partners, like Overbrook Support Services, can offer the necessary technical and logistical expertise needed to navigate these challenges successfully.