Laboratory Fit Planning and Fit Out
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Benefits of Laboratory Test Fits
Designing a laboratory space is a complex process that requires a methodical approach throughout all phases and stages of the project. Overbrook’s approach to any new laboratory, or existing laboratory renovation is to develop an accurate test-fit for placement of instrumentation in the laboratory based on workflow and site mechanical requirements of the laboratory. Once an accurate plan is created, the architects can create their fit plan with associated mechanical plans by the engineers.
Overbrook Laboratory Fit Out Services
Overbrook Support Services will provide support for the acquisition and commissioning of instrumentation and is not bound by a single vendor solution. In sourcing instrumentation, Overbrook’s goal is to ensure that the optimal solution is purchased for each major asset in conjunction with client preferences and existing vendor relationships.
Why is a Test Fit required prior to a Fit Plan?
A critical step is ensuring the client Laboratory has clear objectives and a consensus-driven plan for the laboratory’s workflow. Stakeholders must be on the same page before launching a project's design phase.
At this early stage, programming details need to be established. Is the project a redesign of an existing building or the design of a whole new facility? Whether or not the client is considering a new location, well-documented program parameters are an essential tool for guiding the evaluation of potential sites and/or (re)designing the new environment. An accurate test fit ensures that the laboratory’s umbilical systems can accommodate the instruments in the lab that are to be placed to support the workflow and is an essentially the first step prior to the architects fit plan.
How Do You Begin a Laboratory Test Fit?
The laboratory test fit process begins with the science plan and the people working in the lab that make the science a reality. It is critical to understand the workflow of the lab, the instrumentation that is going to be placed and the umbilical requirements to support the instrumentation. As all instrumentation are in essence, mechanical devices, an understanding of their environmental requirements, their engineering dependencies and their connectivity to the laboratory’s umbilical systems are essential in designing the laboratory and should be under the guidance of a qualified instrumentation engineer. Considerations such as full footprint requirements, proper clearances to ensure gas and electrical connections, heat dissipation of rough pumps, accessibility by service engineers to service the equipment, bench weight tolerances, gas pressure decay distances from gas supplies for example may not normally be taken into account as some of these specifications may not necessarily be referenced in installation documentation. In many cases, it is only after instrumentation has been placed on the bench, that action needs to be undertaken to accommodate these requirements and to remediate oversights.
How Can a Lab Fit-Out Support the Efficient Workflow of the Laboratory?
Understanding the projects and assays required of the lab presently and into the future requires thoughtful planning to accommodate growth and contingencies. Often overlooked, adequate bench space to accommodate peripherals, workspace, and proper clearances for instrumentation maintenance can render the lab inefficient and difficult to work in before the laboratory has even been commissioned. Considerations such as adequate laboratory storage are essential in a successful laboratory fit-out, but it is often reduced to save space and money. Proper workflow design, instrumentation adjacencies, storage, equipment, and workspaces are signs of a well-thought-out design.
Proper lab layout also ensures the ergonomics of the workspace don't impede workflow. An adequate lab layout means that the lab provides everyone ample space to work and allows researchers to carry out their work efficiently and efficiently.
Juggling is for Circuses.Are you focusing on too many things and not on your science?
How Does Budgeting Factor into the Laboratory Fit-Out?
Budget considerations require assessing costs for each stage of the project, including the design, consultant fees, materials, and labor. Creating a detailed matrix for each project's different aspects assists with high-level planning and provides cost analyses for each space type. To keep the information relevant and valuable, update the matrix as the design expands and evolves, including cost drivers like casework, engineering needs, and architectural elements.
Accurate cost consultancy is a critical factor in successfully delivering a design build-out project. At Overbrook, our team of experienced laboratory specialists understands how important maintaining a budget is to your business goals and will provide:
- Proactive cost management solutions.
- Advising on the cost of construction and property development projects.
- Remaining hands-on throughout the duration of your project or portfolio of works.
- Striving for value through the entire lifecycle.
How Does a Proper Laboratory Fit-Out Contribute to the Success of your Laboratory?
Planning for something new is exciting, especially when it's for the creation of a new, renovated, or adaptive reuse of space for a state-of-art lab that advances life-changing research and innovation. Whether it's the design of a 150,000-square-foot lab and research facility or a start-up lab's two-bench space, laboratory environments that are efficient, safe, and comfortable start with significant planning and communication.
Successful laboratory construction requires coordination from all parties—from the design team to the end user. Problems will arise with every project, but they can be overcome by sharing resources, flexible use of space, and the ability to adapt to changing needs.
