Wood’s Life Sciences experts don’t view the laboratory of the future as a distant aspiration - for us, it’s a tangible, forward-thinking concept that we can help you envision and build today. As science evolves, so too must life sciences design, engineering and construction. This demands a comprehensive vision for a future-ready laboratory: one that is safe, adaptable, sustainable, technologically advanced, and designed to foster multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
A Multi-Functional Research Ecosystem
Laboratories are evolving - from single-purpose buildings to working as dynamic ecosystems that support a wide range of functions:
- Wet and dry laboratories
- Office and analytical spaces
- Collaboration and idea-incubator zones
- Casual and well-being areas
- Outdoor and biophilic environments
This diversity of space types enables seamless transitions between experimentation, analysis, collaboration, inspiration and rest – maximising both productivity and creativity.
Wood understands that to solve the most complex global R&D challenges, deep collaboration and innovation across scientific disciplines are essential. Laboratories must be designed to encourage this through:
- Open, flexible layouts
- Shared research zones
- Instant data-capture and data-sharing tools
- Spaces that promote spontaneous interaction and knowledge exchange
Scientific Efficiency
As science rapidly evolves, laboratory spaces must increase scientific efficiency through optimal operational design:
- Integration of robotics and automation of repetitive tasks, allowing scientists to focus on high-value research
- Spaces designed for scientific capability rather than bespoke, single-use research
- Operations designed around shared equipment platforms
These improvements lead to lower facility lifecycle costs through:
- Reduced laboratory and equipment downtime
- Increased scientist density
- Higher equipment utilisation Greater reconfiguration flexibility
Structural and Spatial flexibility
Our approach to laboratory design , laboratory planning and life sciences construction ensures the new building’s structure is engineered for maximum adaptability:
- An optimised laboratory grid facilitates safe operations, future retrofits and the integration of robotics and cobots
- Flat-slab construction (e.g., post-tensioned or bubble slabs) without beams allows unrestricted room layouts
- Soft concrete cores near columns provides flexibility for future service penetrations
- Optimised slab-to-slab heights enable the construction of additional floors within the same envelope
Additional spatial flexibility and efficiency can be achieved through:
- Distributed air-handling plantrooms and accessible risers across floors
- 20–30% spare riser capacity for future services
- Modular service grids in circulation spaces for plug-and-play reconfiguration
- Mobile furniture (including sinks) and flexible service reticulation (from above or below)
- Continuous connection between ceiling space and riser space to create flexibility for services installation and reconfiguration in the future
Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
To achieve carbon neutrality and reduce emissions, life sciences engineering must incorporate:
- Use of low carbon-footprint materials, including mass timber structures
- Optimised orientation, form factor, and thermal envelope
- Airtight construction for pressure-control and reduced infiltration
- Shading devices and high-performance glazing
- Passive solar design for reduced peak loads
These passive design measures must be complemented by good engineering design practices such as:
- Demand-Controlled Ventilation via advanced air monitoring (with a focus on unoccupied, lower occupancy or low-contaminant zones),
- Integration of variable flow fume cupboards and lab exhausts, along with risk-based analysis of fume cupboard systems (individual vs. manifolded), which reduce fan-energy consumption (by up to 70%)
- Full heat recovery in PC2 and low-risk spaces and run-around coils for manifolded fume cupboards
- HVAC Optimisation, including an electric-only mechanical plant with high-efficiency systems
- CFD modelling of HVAC airflows to identify opportunities to reduce air change rates and airflows
- On site liquid-waste treatment and solvent recovery
- On site gas-recovery (e.g. helium)
- Wet-scrubbed and filtered exhausts
- Biological waste decontamination
- Solid-waste recycling wherever feasible
Digital Infrastructure and Robotics
Laboratories are rapidly incorporating digital technologies and robotics, including:
- Robotic sample processing and biobanking
- Computerised reagent storage and inventory systems
- Cobots for repetitive and/or hazardous tasks
- Autonomous mobile robots for specific just-in-time distribution of materials and consumables
- AI-generated research
- Remote-operator technology that removes users from high-risk processes
This evolution requires robust ICT infrastructure with:
- Integrated systems for lab equipment, BMS and LMS
- Secure, converged networks for seamless data transfer
- Infrastructure to support a “living laboratory” model
Value and Longevity
The laboratory of the future must be a sound investment - designed to deliver value today yet remain adaptable for decades. By integrating lean construction principles, flexibility, sustainability and cutting-edge technology, our team of life sciences engineering experts will help you:
- Minimise operational costs
- Maximise research uptime
- Support evolving scientific methods
- Ensure long-term adaptability without the need for costly retrofits
The laboratory of the future is a building with a singular purpose: research and innovation. To do so it must be able to host a multitude of functions, spaces, and systems - each designed to support the evolving needs of science, society and the environment. Wood can help you design and build with foresight today, to plan and create laboratories that are not only future-ready but future-defining.