A successful laboratory starts long before the first piece of equipment is installed. From understanding scientific workflows and technical requirements to creating an environment that supports collaboration and future growth, effective laboratory planning lays the foundation for a productive, safe and adaptable workspace.
For life sciences businesses, research organisations and technology companies, laboratories are more than functional spaces. They are environments where innovation happens, ideas develop, and scientific breakthroughs take shape. Getting the planning right can improve operational efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs and create a better experience for the people working within them.
However, laboratories present challenges that are rarely encountered in traditional office environments. Specialist ventilation, sensitive equipment, complex mechanical and electrical infrastructure and stringent safety requirements all influence the design and layout.
At COEL, our approach to laboratory planning begins with understanding the people, processes and ambitions of each organisation. By bringing together technical expertise and thoughtful workplace design, we create laboratory environments that work efficiently today while providing flexibility for the future.
Every laboratory project should begin with a clear understanding of its purpose. Before developing layouts or specifying equipment, it is important to establish the scientific activities taking place, the technical requirements involved and the operational priorities of the organisation.
A laboratory designed for chemical analysis will have very different requirements from one supporting electronics development, molecular biology or pharmaceutical research. Each environment needs a tailored approach to infrastructure, safety, storage and workflow.
Effective planning starts with understanding the daily activities of scientists, technicians and laboratory managers. Mapping the movement of people, samples, materials and equipment through the space helps identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary movement.
For example, locating sample preparation areas close to analytical equipment can reduce handling time, while separating incompatible processes helps minimise contamination risks. Storage, waste disposal and cleaning facilities should also be positioned logically within the overall workflow.
These decisions influence everything from bench placement and circulation routes to the location of specialist services.
Laboratory planning should involve the people responsible for operating and maintaining the facility, not just those commissioning the project.
Scientists, laboratory managers, facilities teams, health and safety specialists and IT personnel can all provide valuable insight into the requirements of the space. Early engagement helps establish priorities, identify potential challenges and avoid costly design changes during construction.
It is equally important to understand the organisation’s commercial objectives. Future recruitment, changing research programmes and potential expansion should all influence the planning strategy.
Research requirements rarely remain unchanged. New technologies, additional equipment and expanding teams can quickly place pressure on laboratory facilities.
Building flexibility into the initial plan helps organisations adapt without undertaking extensive refurbishment. This might include allowing additional capacity within electrical infrastructure, providing accessible service routes or specifying modular laboratory furniture that can be reconfigured.
The aim is to create a laboratory that supports current research without restricting future possibilities.
An effective laboratory layout makes the best use of available space while maintaining safe, practical working conditions. The relationship between different areas is particularly important, as inefficient layouts can create unnecessary movement, disrupt workflows and introduce avoidable risks.
The laboratory design process should balance technical requirements with accessibility, collaboration and the ability to adapt.
Dividing the laboratory into clearly defined functional areas helps maintain efficient operations.
Depending on the nature of the research, these zones may include sample preparation, analytical testing, specialist equipment, storage, cleaning and waste management.
Some activities require physical separation to maintain environmental conditions or prevent contamination. Others benefit from being located close together to improve communication and workflow.
Careful adjacency planning ensures that connected processes remain accessible while incompatible activities are appropriately separated.
Open plan laboratories can provide flexibility, encourage collaboration and make shared equipment more accessible. They are particularly effective where research activities have compatible environmental and safety requirements.
However, certain processes require enclosed spaces with dedicated ventilation, temperature control or containment measures.
A combination of open laboratory areas and specialist enclosed rooms can provide an effective balance, allowing teams to collaborate while maintaining the controlled conditions required for sensitive work.
Movement through a laboratory should be straightforward and unobstructed. Circulation routes must accommodate staff, equipment deliveries, mobile workstations and waste transportation without creating unnecessary congestion.
Access to emergency exits, safety showers and other essential equipment must remain clear.
Accessibility should also be incorporated into the layout from the outset, with appropriate circulation widths, workstation arrangements and controls that support different physical needs.
Laboratory storage can occupy considerable floor space, particularly where chemicals, consumables and specialist equipment need to be stored separately.
Under-bench cupboards, wall-mounted storage and modular shelving can help maximise available space while keeping essential materials close to working areas.
Storage should be planned around the nature of the materials being handled. Hazardous substances may require dedicated cabinets, ventilation or segregation, while frequently used consumables should remain accessible without obstructing laboratory activities.
Safety must be integrated into laboratory planning from the earliest stages. The combination of specialist equipment, hazardous substances and controlled environments means that risk management influences almost every aspect of the design.
A coordinated approach helps ensure the laboratory meets its operational requirements while protecting staff, visitors and the wider building.
Laboratory facilities may be subject to several areas of UK health and safety legislation, depending on the work being undertaken.
These can include the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR), relevant Building Regulations and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Biological research, cleanroom environments and specialist scientific processes may also introduce additional requirements.
Identifying applicable regulations early allows appropriate safety measures to be incorporated into the design rather than added retrospectively.
Ventilation is one of the most technically demanding aspects of laboratory planning.
Different research activities may require fume cupboards, local exhaust ventilation, specialist filtration or controlled pressure relationships between rooms.
The correct solution depends on the hazards present and the level of containment required. Air change rates and ventilation performance should therefore be established through appropriate risk assessments rather than applying a standard specification across every laboratory.
Adequate space must also be allocated for ductwork, plant equipment, maintenance access and future servicing.
Fire protection strategies should reflect the specific hazards associated with the laboratory.
This includes appropriate fire detection, compartmentation, escape routes and storage arrangements for flammable or reactive materials.
The movement and disposal of hazardous substances must also be incorporated into the layout, with clearly defined routes and suitable facilities for safe handling.
Emergency showers, eyewash stations and other protective measures should be specified according to the laboratory’s risk assessment and relevant requirements.
Safe laboratory design also means creating an environment that accommodates the people using it.
Height-adjustable workstations, appropriate seating, accessible controls and sufficient circulation space can help support different working requirements.
Ergonomic planning is particularly important where staff spend extended periods standing at benches, using microscopes or performing repetitive tasks.
Creating an inclusive laboratory environment supports comfort, accessibility and wellbeing.
Mechanical and electrical services form the technical foundation of a laboratory. Their requirements can significantly influence the feasibility, cost and layout of a project, particularly when converting an existing commercial building.
Early coordination between designers, engineers and laboratory users is essential to ensure that the building can support the intended research activities.
Laboratory equipment can place substantial demands on electrical infrastructure. Analytical instruments, freezers, environmental controls and specialist machinery may require dedicated supplies or additional electrical capacity.
Sensitive equipment may also need uninterruptible power supplies to protect against short interruptions, while critical systems may require further backup arrangements.
Understanding equipment loads and future capacity requirements early helps avoid expensive infrastructure changes later.
Laboratories often require more precise environmental control than conventional workplaces.
Temperature, humidity and airflow may need to remain within defined parameters to protect equipment performance, maintain research conditions or meet containment requirements.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems should be designed around these needs, with opportunities for energy efficiency incorporated wherever technically appropriate.
Heat recovery, intelligent controls and variable air volume systems can help reduce operational energy consumption, provided they are compatible with the laboratory’s safety and containment strategy.
Wet laboratories may require specialist water supplies, backflow protection and drainage systems suitable for the substances being handled.
Laboratory gases introduce further requirements for safe storage, distribution, isolation and monitoring.
Planning these services alongside the overall laboratory layout ensures equipment can be connected efficiently while maintaining access for inspection, maintenance and future modifications.
A laboratory fit-out is not complete simply because construction has finished.
Mechanical and electrical systems must be tested and commissioned to demonstrate that they operate as intended. Depending on the facility, additional verification or validation may be required for ventilation, containment and controlled environments.
Planning these activities into the project programme helps reduce delays and ensures the laboratory is ready for safe occupation and operation.
Laboratories are often among the most energy-intensive environments within commercial buildings. Specialist ventilation, refrigeration, equipment and environmental controls can create substantial operational demands.
However, effective planning can identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, minimise waste and improve the environmental performance of the facility.
Lighting, ventilation and heating systems should be specified around actual laboratory requirements rather than unnecessary excess capacity.
LED lighting, occupancy controls and intelligent building management systems can help reduce energy consumption in appropriate areas.
Ventilation deserves particular attention because of the energy required to condition and move large volumes of air. Demand-based controls and heat recovery may offer significant efficiencies where compatible with the laboratory’s risk assessment and technical requirements.
The environmental impact of a laboratory extends to the materials used during construction and furnishing.
Durable finishes, responsibly sourced products and materials with lower embodied carbon can help reduce the environmental footprint of the fit-out.
Reusing suitable existing infrastructure and furniture can also reduce waste and unnecessary expenditure.
Material selection must always account for laboratory performance, particularly where chemical resistance, cleanability or contamination control is essential.
Laboratory processes can require considerable water consumption, making efficient fittings and responsible equipment selection important.
Waste management should also be incorporated into the layout, with appropriate segregation for general waste, recyclable materials and hazardous substances.
Clear storage and disposal arrangements help staff follow safe procedures while supporting wider sustainability objectives.
One of the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of a laboratory is to extend its useful life.
Adaptable layouts, accessible services and durable furniture reduce the need for frequent alterations as research requirements evolve.
By taking a future view during planning, organisations can protect their investment while reducing the materials and resources required for subsequent refurbishments.
Transforming an existing building into a specialist laboratory environment demonstrates the importance of detailed planning and technical coordination.
At Buckingway Business Park in Cambridge, COEL worked with Sherlock BioSciences to convert a former warehouse into laboratory and office facilities supporting diagnostic development.
The project required a combination of specialist research environments, including ISO 8 cleanrooms, research and development laboratories and quality control areas.
Careful planning allowed the technical requirements of the laboratory to be integrated into the existing building while creating adaptable office and collaborative spaces.
Natural light, biophilic elements and flexible working areas helped create an environment that supports the people working within it as well as the scientific processes taking place.
The project demonstrates the value of coordinating technical infrastructure, workplace design and future growth requirements from the outset.
A laboratory may be technically sophisticated, but its success also depends on the experience of the people using it.
Scientific work often involves long periods of concentration, repetitive tasks and time spent within controlled environments. Providing comfortable, accessible and supportive spaces can help improve the working experience and encourage collaboration.
Laboratory benches and seating should reflect the activities being undertaken.
Height-adjustable benches, appropriate task chairs and anti-fatigue flooring can help reduce physical strain during extended working periods.
Workstations should also provide sufficient space for equipment, samples and documentation without creating awkward working positions.
Laboratories can contain significant sources of noise, including mechanical equipment, refrigeration systems and specialist machinery.
Where possible, noisy equipment should be separated from areas requiring concentration.
Acoustic treatments in offices, write-up spaces and meeting rooms can help create quieter environments, while appropriate mechanical design can reduce noise transmission from building services.
Access to daylight and views of the outdoors can make laboratory environments feel more welcoming.
Glazed partitions can help bring natural light into internal spaces while maintaining the separation required between laboratory and office areas.
Planting, natural textures and warmer materials can also be introduced into suitable non-laboratory spaces, creating a contrast to the more technical working environment.
Scientific innovation depends on both focused individual work and the exchange of ideas.
Providing a variety of breakout spaces allows employees to step away from laboratory activities, collaborate informally or take time to recharge.
These areas might include comfortable lounges, communal kitchens, quiet rooms and informal meeting spaces.
Their location is important. Positioning them close to laboratory and office areas encourages interaction while maintaining the necessary separation from controlled environments.
Scientific research is continually evolving, and laboratory environments must be able to respond to changing requirements.
New equipment, additional researchers and shifting project priorities can all affect the way a laboratory is used. Designing flexibility into the space helps organisations respond without undertaking extensive construction work.
Modular benching, mobile workstations and adaptable storage can allow laboratory layouts to change as teams and research activities develop.
The choice of laboratory furniture should balance flexibility with durability, safety and the specific requirements of the work being carried out.
Where practical, movable furniture can be combined with fixed service points to create a flexible working environment without compromising essential infrastructure.
Future modifications become easier when electrical, data and mechanical services are accessible.
Overhead service carriers, suitable distribution routes and strategically positioned connection points can help accommodate changes in equipment and laboratory layouts.
However, the level of flexibility should be appropriate to the facility. Installing unnecessary infrastructure can increase both initial costs and operational energy consumption.
Modern laboratories increasingly depend on connected equipment, data management platforms and digital monitoring systems.
Reliable connectivity, sufficient network capacity and appropriate data security should therefore be incorporated into the laboratory plan.
Allowing for future digital requirements can help organisations introduce new technologies without major alterations to their existing infrastructure.
Future growth should be discussed during the earliest stages of laboratory planning.
This may involve identifying areas that could accommodate additional benches, allowing capacity for new equipment or ensuring that adjacent spaces can be adapted as the organisation expands.
A planned laboratory should provide enough flexibility to support growth without compromising the efficiency of its current operations.
Creating an effective laboratory plan requires more than arranging equipment and workstations. It involves understanding scientific processes, coordinating specialist infrastructure and designing an environment that supports the people working within it.
At COEL, we bring together laboratory planning, design and fit-out expertise to deliver spaces that balance technical performance with flexibility, sustainability and employee wellbeing.
Our integrated teams work closely with clients from initial feasibility and planning through to design, construction, furniture installation and ongoing maintenance. This coordinated approach helps identify challenges early, manage project complexity and ensure the completed environment reflects both operational requirements and business ambitions.
Whether you are developing a new research facility, converting commercial premises or expanding an existing laboratory, COEL can help create an inspiring space that supports scientific innovation today and adapts to the opportunities of tomorrow.
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