Undergoing a laboratory relocation can be a stressful experience. You may be upsizing after a successful funding round or just planning for success.
This could be your first lab move or you may be relocating as part of a broader change in your management process.
Whatever your motivation for moving to a new location, our laboratory relocation team can help guide you through the entire process.
The decision to move labs is not just about a new location. It’s also about finding the right space for your team to thrive.
At COEL, we recognise that this is a significant change that needs to be managed carefully so that there is minimal impact on your employees. You don’t want your team to feel anxious. Instead, they should feel as if they are part of the process and excited about the opportunities your new laboratory could present.
A well-managed laboratory move can save you time, ensuring that you experience the least possible ‘downtime’ and enabling your team to return to their research as quickly as possible.
At COEL, we understand that while most laboratories are similar in design and layout, the finer details may differ. For this reason, we offer a range of options to help manage your relocation to ensure we can fulfil your specific requirements.
We are happy to provide flexible solutions to support your lab relocation:
The finished fit out and design exceeded our expectations and has provided us with a fantastic space which supports our research requirements and provides us with communal areas and meeting rooms for us to get together as a team Dr Barnaby Balmforth, CEO and co-founder of Biofidelity
From guiding your researchers and labelling boxes to moving lab furniture and installing specialist equipment. Our lab relocation team will develop a practical and failsafe approach to managing your move.
Working closely with your designer, our dedicated project manager will guide you through the steps outlined below.
Working practices have changed drastically over the years and, as a result, how you use your laboratory may also have evolved. For this reason, we will meet with your key stakeholders in order to gain an in-depth understanding of your requirements and how we can be of assistance.
We will create a bespoke project plan for your laboratory relocation that will outline what you need to do and by when, any phasing requirements for moving your team, a storage inventory to plan our packing crates and boxes, an initial floor plan, and key dates and times for your diaries.
We will create move guides which we will distribute to all your team members, provide labels for boxes to help with locating items, deliver crates and adequate protection for your valuables, and help with early packing and preparation for moving day. Our in-house mechanical and electrical services specialists will also work to safely disconnect any sensitive lab equipment and prepare it for relocation.
We will decommission your lab equipment, remove all furniture, ensure safe transit, set up the new space in accordance with the agreed floor plan, and then re-commission the equipment.
You can also rest assured that any specialist equipment that requires precise handling (e.g., vibration control) will be treated accordingly and with the utmost care.
Unlike other laboratory relocation companies, we will arrange for a project manager to remain onsite to ensure that all the lab equipment works and to collate any packing materials for collection, responsible disposal or recycling.
Once all your staff have been safely relocated to your new laboratory, we will sign off the project and you will be ready to go!
Sometimes, it’s not about relocating at all. You could be happy with your current lab but your business may be growing, or you need to adapt your current space to suit new projects.
Don’t worry, our laboratory relocation company can help here too. We can design a new floor plan and provide new lab furniture, storage options and service solutions to create the space you need to expand your business or research endeavours.
We believe that all laboratory relocation companies have a responsibility to dispose of waste ethically.
We also appreciate that many of our clients are working towards their own sustainability goals, so ethical disposal and lowering our combined environmental impact are vital considerations.
Before we remove any unwanted furniture from your existing lab, we will assess whether it can be reused or repurposed. We will also work with a dedicated partner who will remove all packing waste on our behalf. They will strip down the materials and recycle them wherever possible to reduce waste.
We will then provide our clients with a certificate to demonstrate how much they have saved in emissions by choosing our managed service.
Unfortunately, not all laboratory relocations go as smoothly as planned, and timelines can shift for reasons beyond your control.
Perhaps the end of your lease is rapidly approaching and your new lab is not quite ready. Don’t worry, we can help here too.
One of the benefits of our warehouse storage facility is that our clients will have the flexibility and reassurance they need as they will be able to store furniture, documents and equipment should their circumstances change. We can be completely flexible – providing a storage option for a few days or several weeks while you concentrate on your laboratory relocation. Long-term storage options are also available for items you know you will need again one day!
At COEL, our goal is to ensure your lab relocation proceeds as quickly and seamlessly as possible. If you would like to discuss your requirements with one of our relocation experts, please get in touch with us today via our contact details below or by completing our online form.
