The result? Laboratories that work as hard as the people in them.
GOT A LAB LAYOUT CHALLENGE?
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
Share your laboratory requirements, whether it’s design, refurbishment, or relocation, and a dedicated expert will be in touch within 24 hours to get things underway.
Planning a laboratory is a high-stakes task. Every decision, from layout to infrastructure, affects how safely and efficiently your team can work.
At COEL, we take laboratory planning seriously because we know what’s at stake. We work closely with your team to build a clear, practical strategy that reflects how your lab will actually be used, now and into the future.
COEL offers comprehensive laboratory planning services designed to match your space to your operational goals. Whether you’re starting from scratch or optimising an existing lab, we can provide you with expert planning solutions to ensure enhanced operations and your lab’s growth and success.
Our service includes:
We make it our mission to understand the scientific processes at the heart of your work, so the plan we deliver supports every task, tool, and team member.
We’re not scientists—we’re space strategists who know how to listen to scientists. That distinction is key. Our strength lies in asking the right questions, understanding your workflows, and translating those insights into a functional and flexible laboratory environment.
Here’s what sets COEL apart when it comes to lab planning:
With offices in Cambridge and active projects across Oxford and the ARC, we’re embedded in the UK’s major science clusters. We understand the demands and nuances of research-focused businesses because we work alongside them every day.
We plan with scientists, not just for them. Your team’s safety, workflow, and comfort guide every decision we make.
Our in-house mechanical and electrical experts ensure your lab systems support real-world use. Whether it’s lab gases, extraction, or climate control, we plan for safety and performance from the ground up.
As one of the leading laboratory planning consultants in Cambridge and beyond, we’ve delivered both purpose-built and repurposed labs for clients across the UK. Our planning approach has helped teams avoid costly design missteps and hit the ground running.
Every successful lab starts with a clear, collaborative strategy. Here’s how we deliver our laboratory planning solutions:
We start by meeting your scientists, operations team, and leadership to uncover how the lab needs to function, now and in the future.
If you’re already operating in a lab space, we assess how it’s being used, what’s working, and where the bottlenecks are.
We match your spatial needs with your business objectives, whether that’s scaling capacity, supporting new research areas, or achieving sustainability targets.
From chemical handling to cold storage, we identify what’s essential, and what’s optional, or compliance, efficiency, and future scalability.
We help you plan for adaptability and lower environmental impact, balancing function with sustainability wherever possible.
As your trusted laboratory planning consultant, we’ll work with you to create a clear, realistic timeline and budget, then hand it off to our design and delivery teams if required.
Our clients come from across the life sciences sector and beyond. We understand that no two labs are alike, but the need for smart laboratory planning is universal. We’ve worked with:
If your work involves science, precision, and people, we know how to make the space work for you.
Want Our KnowHow
straight into your inbox?
Sign-up to our newsletter click here
