Insight: Negotiating the peculiarities of R&D fit outs
It’s one of our strengths – the diversity of our experience. And our experience working with the Research and Development industry is why our workplaces, created for some of the UK’s leading pharmaceutical companies, yield outstanding results. We’re going to take a look at our experience in a little more depth, outlining the expertise which leaves us perfectly placed as a partner or contractor for your next R&D fit out.
Experience
Quell, Novartis, Sanofi, Biocompatibles UK, Hyundai , Hitachi and Rolls Royce to name but a few of our clients. We’ve created spaces tailored specifically towards research and development for companies who are looking to create an exceptional employee experience. Branch out spaces, laboratories (Wet Chemistry, Dry and Microscopy), video conferencing suites, open plan reception rooms, agile workspaces – the needs that improve productivity for a modern workplace are met, on every project.
But there are deeper needs to consider too; needs that, if met, will help to solidify office-working as superior to home-working. Diverse spaces for working, meeting, and facilitating discussions, combined with ample natural light, fresh air, and the facilities to make a coffee or heat up lunch, will infinitely improve staff wellbeing. And – given that we cover both Cat A and Cat B fit out – we’re skilled in taking these considerations and sculpting them into the very best spaces.
Considerations
Each industry has its nuances when it comes to requirements – but R&D, particularly where laboratory space is required, has arguably the most complex needs to consider.
Technical requirements inform the design going forward; system capacities, drainage, plant provision, space for laboratory services, location of supplies and the tendency for existing spaces to be office-biased all need to be considered before the design stage begins. What is there already? Does this limit the design? If so, do we want to change the facilities to facilitate a better space? These are questions we’re comfortable to ask to make sure the very best end product is achieved.
A case study: Quell Therapeutics
Value: £2 million
Area: 12,000 sqft
We were appointed to deliver Cat B fit out for new office and laboratory space on the Imperial University Campus, for Quell Therapeutics. Again, operating within an occupied building required us to be flexible with construction and exact in our planning. Working alongside Savills we transformed the space from landlord shell and core, to an agile collaborative working environment complete with the necessary lab space and freezer rooms. The main deliverables were:
- Agile offices and meeting rooms
- A main laboratory space
- R&D cell culture and GMP cell culture labs
- Freezer/store
- Liquid nitrogen store and associated facilities
- All delivered to tight timescales
A case study: Biocompatibles UK Ltd
Value: £4 million
Area: 52,000 sqft
The new Biocompatibles laboratory facility in Camberley required significant change of use to the services infrastructure of the building, which had originally been constructed as an office space. By involving a Laboratory services consultant at an early stage, our designers were armed with the limitations of the space and designed a robust services strategy.
As well as the technical challenges inherent with a specialist fit out of this kind, one of the key drivers from the brief was to create a series of functioning laboratories that could be comfortably and safely viewed by visiting clients without any interference to the technicians or experiments. Training and viewing areas are situated immediately adjacent to the larger laboratories and offer panoramic views into the working laboratories, providing a true sense of immersion for trainees and guests. Our main deliverables were:
- Wet Chemistry Laboratories
- Dry Laboratories
- Microscopy Laboratories
- Successful management and execution of bespoke laboratory systems
- Establishment of clear and effective lines of communication between stakeholders
- Stringent compliance procedures and processes throughout
So why ODInteriors?
First of all – we know what we’re doing. We’re specialists. We know who’s good at what and we make sure that expertise operates where it’s most effective.
Secondly – we’re honest. We’re up front and service-focused, so you can feel confident, throughout the process, that we’ll keep you informed and comfortable from start to finish.
Whether we’re working in partnership as part of a group or working solely on behalf of the client, we’re proud to deliver outstanding quality, every time. We provide a high service of aftercare which means, once the project is completed, we’re still on hand to make sure you’re happy with the end product.
Take a look at more of our projects or reach out to us – we’d be more than happy to have a chat about the changing face of the workplace.
