Pharmaceutical Spaces Designed, Built with Extreme Flexibility for Today, Tomorrow

By Kevin McNutt

Pharmaceutical companies are in a race to market with their latest drug demand contractors who can collaborate with them to map current and future research and manufacturing needs, building flexibility into labs and manufacturing lines to shift on a dime with the latest scientific advances. Design-build contractors with expertise in leveraging modular building systems and integrating single-use technology – such as disposable bioprocessing equipment – are the frontrunners delivering these projects for leading pharma companies.

“A lot of the work we do in this market is research-driven,” McNutt says. “By the time we’re building the research space, the initial researcher is no longer there or has completely changed the scope of research, so design flexibility is a must.”

Pharmaceutical research operations typically entail moving researchers between departments and lab spaces within a building, according to McNutt, with the specific purpose of each space changing on a frequent basis. As such, design and engineering must be flexible to adapt to the company’s needs. Preassembled mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) modules
built off-site and lifted into place are often utilized to retain flexibility and expedite schedule, he says.