There’s a laboratory on your street: how science is bringing discovery back to our cities

When someone is asked to picture a standard laboratory or research facility, the image that generally comes to mind is one of large, pristine white buildings set out of town in rolling hills, or dedicated “knowledge parks”, conveniently located right by a motorway. However, a combination of creative post-pandemic repurposing and considerable commercial property opportunity, coupled with the need to drive effective recruitment and retention, is beginning to challenge this concept.

The result is a new generation of scientific buildings emerging right at the heart of our towns and cities, creating new ecosystems through good connections with research hospitals and universities.

Uniting clusters of like-minded individuals

As the technology sector did before it, the knowledge quarter of science is spreading beyond its traditional boundaries. It makes sense that these highly skilled, highly motivated and collaborative people are located near other science and healthcare researchers and investors, with social opportunities and access to good transport links. Furthermore, the city itself adds prestige and brand value.

A case in point is London’s Francis Crick Institute, the MEP design of which the team here at Arup delivered. Located in the middle of the King’s Cross Knowledge Quarter, it boasts easy access to national and international railways.

Researchers and scientists are turning their backs on the “out of town” era, shunning the commute in favour of the urban experience that a city centre location offers

Having opened in 2016, it is now the largest biomedical research institute under one roof in Europe. Demand for new laboratory space within walking distance of the Francis Crick Institute is so strong that many “office to laboratory” conversions are being brought forward, as is the development of new-build laboratory-enabled office space.

However, unity is not the only driver. The pandemic has fundamentally altered how we live and work.

Researchers and scientists are turning their backs on the “out of town” era, shunning the commute in favour of the urban experience that a city centre location offers. Businesses must respond to this demand, or risk losing out on hiring – and retaining – skilled employees.

Considerations when converting commercial space into laboratories

Empty offices are a common sight in city centres, so it makes sense for landlords to capitalise on the rich territory of science labs. However, there are a range of factors to consider when looking to absorb science into the existing fabric of a city, including having local connections to an innovative ecosystem.

While overcoming the technical, engineering and planning constraints may seem insurmountable, a dedicated multidisciplinary framework is often the key to successful retrofit assessments.

The process begins with an evaluation of the likely tenant profile, including the number of people that will use the facility, the division between offices and laboratories, type of science research and the potential mix of laboratory types (wet, dry, digital) on a typical floor.

Operating a life science facility is completely different from operating an office

Historically, the laboratory sector has used an informal set of criteria for design, including elements such as typical air change rate, additional services and split between office and laboratory spaces. At Arup, we are currently exploring ways to conduct classification of the various levels of possible facility for different tenancy types.

Operating a life science facility is completely different from operating an office. There is an additional requirement for clinical (gases, cryogenics etc) deliveries and waste removal as well as associated delivery routes throughout the building.

The requirement for an external delivery access point and a dedicated goods lift is critical to safe operations. Early identification of the limits of an office to pass this type of inspection will be a deciding factor in the repurposing of any building.

Another crucial component is the space for services in any one building. Higher air change rates and internal heat gains give rise to an increased demand on the heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

Specific laboratory services including fume hood extract systems and storage (cold rooms, freezers, chemicals, solvents, consumables etc) could result in previously lettable space being given over to plant and equipment. While shopping centres and retail units benefit from additional “back of house” space to accommodate these facilities, it can prove more challenging for traditional office environments.

Furthermore, the vibration performance of the existing structure may need enhancing for specific operations and the floor loading increasing in some cases too. Arup has developed simple retrofit solutions to improve both vibration performance and loading of existing structures, which has meant more buildings can be considered for conversion to laboratories.

Validating the performance of the structure and installed services is key to informing suitability for science conversion, as well as addressing ongoing issues and reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Driving the sustainability agenda to a net zero lab

Retrofitting existing buildings is an important part of the sustainability agenda as it avoids the large embodied carbon costs inherent in building from new. This is helping to make it more commercially attractive as an option and driving the development of innovative solutions to facilitate it.

All buildings in the UK must be net zero carbon by 2050. Meanwhile, the UK Green Buildings Council estimates that 80% of 2050’s building stock already exists.

It is true that labs use more energy per square metre than offices. However, research is underway into how to minimise the energy demand by challenging the traditional design parameters and benchmark data of the power requirements.

Indeed, Arup is currently funding research into actual “in use” laboratory energy consumption to support the development of more efficient laboratories.

A synergy of science and city

Conversions are nothing new. For centuries, city inhabitants have been repurposing their building stock – whether that be churches transformed into houses, or shops into bars. While the idea of offices into laboratories may be in its infancy, the promise that it holds indicates that its heyday is on the horizon.

There are no off-the-shelf solutions. Instead, these projects require carefully considered planning and execution. This, in itself, demonstrates potential for growth, as these buildings – and their occupants – adapt to seamlessly slot into the surrounding city.

Tim Fry is science business leader at Arup