So, there are many reasons to consider an adaptive reuse approach for a lab build, but there are some challenges. Having a good understanding of what to consider can help you in the design and planning stages and save some headaches as you move through the project.
Looking at adaptive reuse? Start with these considerations.
The challenges inherent to upgrading an existing building to accommodate life sciences can have a fundamental impact on the viability of a specific facility for reuse. To start, it’s important to look at structural capacity and utility density.
Structural Capacity
Many life sciences laboratories have a minimum capacity of 125 psf, so this is the first point of review. Can the building handle the required load of people, casework, and materials?
A second, and critical, consideration is vibration control. Instruments like mass spectrometers are particularly sensitive to vibration. If the building doesn’t have an appropriate structural system in place, vibration control measures may be required. Is there capacity to work these into the design, and what knock-on effect might that have on the plans and budget?
Floor-to-floor height is yet another structural consideration. Labs require significant HVAC systems. If there is inadequate space to install these above lab workspaces, the building is a non-starter. Coordination zones are often established for each critical building system above the laboratory ceiling and in order to accommodate these systems, the underside of the structure will be a critical dimension.
Utility Density
Life sciences labs are energy intense and redundancies are essential to protect valuable research, making some buildings more suitable for reuse as laboratories than others.
The easiest spaces to adapt tend to be outdated labs, which will meet all of the criteria, followed by data centers, industrial spaces, warehouses, and retail buildings, which likely tick some, but not all of the boxes.
The typical challenges of an adaptive reuse project