The problem statement pinpoints the gap between the existing state and the desired state (of a company, a site, a process) and defines the core values that will drive the project.
Further considerations include containment and contamination control, building security and opening times (e.g.for 24/7 lab operations), shared lab functions (e.g.
washrooms or stores), and IP sensitivities – with the size and type of life science business or tenant a driving factor in how these are managed.In all cases, a lab design should be developed as soon as possible, with material and personnel flows and relevant zonings mapped out across all lab and common areas to identify any potential issues.. 8.Existing office buildings may struggle to accommodate more onerous laboratory fire and egress requirements.. A lab will most likely contain more flammable or hazardous materials and sources of ignition than an office.
In most cases this can be addressed with special storage cabinets, fume cabinets, and good housekeeping.However, where larger quantities or more dangerous materials are used (e.g.
oxygen, or even inert materials like liquid nitrogen) this can be particularly challenging.
Further complications may also arise where labs divide up previously open plan offices with new partitions, corridors, airlocks, pods, or inner rooms – further complicating egress routes.. For office to lab conversions, fire and egress strategies must be reviewed holistically with the whole building in mind.This allows materials to be ordered with minimal wastage.. Material passports can be assigned to every material within the building, listing out its environmental and technical performance.
This means materials can be selected on their environmental merits.At the end of the building’s life, materials can be correctly reused and disposed of due to the knowledge of the material.. 3D printing building components enables exact shapes to be manufactured, improving accuracy and reducing waste for more sustainable construction..
Virtual reality can be used to create replicas of buildings and spaces so the client and building users can experience a building before construction.This means modifications can be made to the design to improve it, reducing the likelihood of post-completion changes and the associated material usage..