MicrosensDx Laboratory - Plan, Design, Build, Furnish - COEL

Laboratory &
Research Spaces

We create specialist laboratory and research environments that support discovery, testing and innovation. Based in Cambridge UK, at the heart of one of Europe’s leading research and innovation clusters, we help organisations design, fit out, refurbish and maintain laboratory environments that balance technical performance, operational efficiency and future growth.

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our LAB work

We work with research organisations, universities, life sciences companies, technology businesses and laboratory occupiers to create, improve and maintain specialist environments that support scientific discovery, product development and innovation.

Whether delivering a laboratory refurbishment, cleanroom, pilot production facility or laboratory-enabled workplace, we create environments that balance technical performance, operational efficiency and future flexibility.

Spaces We Create

Every laboratory and research environment is different, but successful facilities are designed around the activities taking place within them, the people using them and the technical requirements that support them.

White laboratory cabinets

1. Specialist Laboratory Environments

Laboratories sit at the heart of many scientific, technical and research-led organisations. They must support specialist equipment, complex processes and regulatory requirements while remaining practical to operate and adapt over time.

We coordinate the building, infrastructure, services and specialist requirements through a single project team, retaining responsibility for programme, communication, quality and delivery.

Examples include:

  • Wet and dry laboratories
  • CL1, CL2 and specialist containment laboratories
  • Biology, chemistry and electronics laboratories
  • Optics and quality control laboratories
A person in a lab coat operates a machine attached to a large white container in a laboratory, with lab equipment and a window showing greenery outside.

2. Research, Development & Controlled Environments

Research and innovation facilities must support experimentation, testing and development while meeting complex technical and operational requirements. Many organisations also require specialist controlled environments that place additional demands on infrastructure, building services and compliance.

Examples include:

  • Research and development facilities
  • Cleanrooms and controlled environments
  • Pilot production and technical testing facilities
  • Shared laboratory, incubator and scale-up environments

These spaces are designed to support both specialist activities and future growth.

Gray high-backed chairs with integrated round side tables are arranged in a sunlit modern office space, complemented by a turquoise ottoman and a white cabinet with a visible key.

3. Laboratory-Enabled Workplaces

Researchers, scientists, engineers and technical teams often move between laboratory work, data analysis, meetings and collaborative activities throughout the day. Successful facilities create seamless connections between these different environments.

Examples include:

  • Write-up and laboratory support areas
  • Laboratory-enabled offices
  • Collaboration and meeting spaces
  • Project and breakout environments

When laboratories and workplaces are designed as part of a connected ecosystem, organisations can support productivity, knowledge sharing and innovation more effectively.

How we do it 

From early stakeholder engagement, through to concept design and build, our dedicated project team will guide you through the entire process;

PLAN 01
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DESIGN 02
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BUILD 03
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FURNISH 04
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Relocate 05
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MAINTAIN 06
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Our lab planning experts will work with your staff and stakeholders to explore the research objectives and specific needs of your lab, setting an affordable budget, identifying M&E requirements and planning timelines for delivery.

We’ll help you envisage your ideal workspace through space planning and early concepts and incorporating sustainability and compliance to create functional, efficient, and future-ready laboratory spaces.

See our plan service

8 Things To Consider When Designing Your Laboratory Space - COEL

From research and development labs to biological, electronic or optic laboratories, our highly skilled interior design team will work with you to turn your vision into a reality.

We will collaborate with your technical teams to create general arrangement plans, and 3D renders where needed, to bring your laboratory workspace to life.

See our design service

Whether you are moving to new laboratories or giving your current laboratory workspace an uplift to accommodate new staff and research facilities, our in-house fit out team works alongside our designers, commercial surveying team, and project managers to manage your lab fit out or refurbishment.

See our build service

Our in-house commercial furniture team will support you with all your furniture needs, from sourcing worktops, lab benches and fume hoods, through to the installation of bespoke storage.

We can help you procure your adaptable lab cabinets and shelving to optimise storage and workflow, ensuring furniture meets any industry safety standards.

See our furniture service

We coordinate your relocation by managing packing, transport, and setup of both existing and new furniture and equipment. We provide on-site supervision to ensure smooth execution with minimal disruption, oversee furniture installation according to the approved layout and liaise with IT and building management to configure services.

Explore our relocation service

If you’re in need of ongoing maintenance support to ensure the longevity and safety of your new laboratory, our commercial maintenance team can support you with your building management needs. From fire safety to water testing, our team will help you ensure that you are complying with the necessary safety standards.

See our maintenance service

Our lab planning experts will work with your staff and stakeholders to explore the research objectives and specific needs of your lab, setting an affordable budget, identifying M&E requirements and planning timelines for delivery.

We’ll help you envisage your ideal workspace through space planning and early concepts and incorporating sustainability and compliance to create functional, efficient, and future-ready laboratory spaces.

See our plan service

8 Things To Consider When Designing Your Laboratory Space - COEL

From research and development labs to biological, electronic or optic laboratories, our highly skilled interior design team will work with you to turn your vision into a reality.

We will collaborate with your technical teams to create general arrangement plans, and 3D renders where needed, to bring your laboratory workspace to life.

See our design service

Whether you are moving to new laboratories or giving your current laboratory workspace an uplift to accommodate new staff and research facilities, our in-house fit out team works alongside our designers, commercial surveying team, and project managers to manage your lab fit out or refurbishment.

See our build service

Our in-house commercial furniture team will support you with all your furniture needs, from sourcing worktops, lab benches and fume hoods, through to the installation of bespoke storage.

We can help you procure your adaptable lab cabinets and shelving to optimise storage and workflow, ensuring furniture meets any industry safety standards.

See our furniture service

We coordinate your relocation by managing packing, transport, and setup of both existing and new furniture and equipment. We provide on-site supervision to ensure smooth execution with minimal disruption, oversee furniture installation according to the approved layout and liaise with IT and building management to configure services.

Explore our relocation service

If you’re in need of ongoing maintenance support to ensure the longevity and safety of your new laboratory, our commercial maintenance team can support you with your building management needs. From fire safety to water testing, our team will help you ensure that you are complying with the necessary safety standards.

See our maintenance service

Related Spaces

Laboratory and research spaces rarely operate in isolation. Most facilities also include a range of supporting spaces that enable collaboration, visitor engagement and day-to-day operations.
 

01

Collaboration & Social Spaces

Supporting teamwork, knowledge sharing and innovation across scientific and technical organisations.

Explore our Collaboration & Social Spaces 

02

Client & Visitor Spaces

Creating welcoming environments for visitors, partners, investors, collaborators and stakeholders.

Explore our Client & Visitor Spaces 

03

Workplace & Office Spaces

Integrating focused workplace environments alongside laboratory and research activities.

Explore our Commercial & Office Spaces 

04

Technical & Support Spaces

Providing the infrastructure and operational environments that help facilities perform safely and efficiently.

Explore our Technical & Support Spaces 

Laboratory technician working in a cleanroom environment with sterile white surfaces and equipment, part of a COEL Lab Planning project for Sense Bio.

Project in Focus: Sherlock Biosciences 

As Sherlock Biosciences expanded its pioneering work in molecular diagnostics, it required a facility capable of supporting research, development, quality control and future production.

We transformed a repurposed warehouse into an integrated environment comprising specialist laboratories, ISO 8 cleanrooms and collaborative workplace space.

By combining technical laboratory environments with meeting rooms and agile workspaces, we created a connected ecosystem that supports innovation and future growth.

See the project

Why This Project Matters 

 

  • Integrated laboratory and workplace environment
  • ISO 8 cleanroom delivery
  • Support for research, quality control and future production#
  • Delivered within the client’s required programme
  • Communication, responsiveness and collaboration recognised by the client

Laboratory &
Research Experience

Based in Cambridge UK, we deliver laboratory and research environments that support innovation across life sciences, education, technology, engineering and specialist research sectors, from laboratory refurbishments and cleanrooms to research centres and workplace environments.

 

Understanding Laboratory
& Research Environments

Laboratory spaces are among the most technically demanding areas within a building, often relying on specialist infrastructure, equipment integration, environmental controls and carefully coordinated building services.

Successful laboratory spaces balance technical performance with flexibility and usability, supporting changing technologies, evolving research programmes and future growth.

Creating these environments requires expertise across planning, design, construction, furniture and ongoing maintenance. Because laboratories combine specialist equipment, scientific processes, environmental controls and building services, clear coordination is essential. Our integrated approach brings these elements together through a single team, helping reduce complexity and maintain accountability throughout the project lifecycle.

See out integrated services

How Organisations
Work With COEL

Every organisation has different requirements. Some need support maintaining existing facilities, while others are planning significant laboratory upgrades or major transformation projects. 

01
Core Works

Supporting the ongoing performance of laboratory and research environments through maintenance, compliance-led improvements and essential facility upgrades.

02
Enhanced Spaces

Refurbishment and adaptation projects that improve functionality, increase flexibility and help existing facilities support changing operational requirements.

03
Larger Projects

Major fit out, refurbishment and transformation projects that create new laboratory and research environments or significantly enhance existing facilities.

04
Ongoing Support

Our relationship with clients often continues long after completion, providing reassurance during occupation, support as requirements change and a familiar team that understands both the environment and the organisation it supports.

View through an interior window into a busy office or laboratory, where employees are working at desks with computers under bright fluorescent lighting.

Delivering Projects Within
Operational Facilities

Many laboratory and research projects take place within occupied buildings where research, testing, teaching or commercial activities need to continue throughout the works.

Laboratory projects often need to be delivered alongside ongoing research, testing or operational activities. We plan access arrangements, shutdowns, commissioning activities, stakeholder communications and equipment interfaces from the outset, helping minimise disruption and maintain continuity throughout the project.

Where existing laboratory spaces need to be taken offline, temporary laboratory solutions can help organisations maintain critical operations while refurbishment or upgrade works are completed. Our experience includes delivering projects within live research facilities and operational workspaces where business continuity is essential.

Bright laboratory room with white workbenches, black framing, overhead shelving, tiled flooring, and fluorescent ceiling lighting.

Supporting Facilities Through Change

New technologies, changing programmes, organisational growth and evolving operational requirements can all create pressure on existing facilities.

In many cases, organisations do not require entirely new buildings but instead need to adapt, improve or reconfigure the spaces they already occupy.

From laboratory upgrades and workplace integration projects to larger refurbishment and fit out programmes, we help organisations create facilities that continue to support their objectives as requirements evolve.

Sustainability & Future Performance 

Laboratory and research spaces can be resource-intensive spaces, making efficiency, adaptability and long-term performance increasingly important.

Through sustainable design principles, efficient building systems and future-focused planning, we help organisations create environments that support operational requirements today while remaining adaptable to future change.

Benefits of Laboratory & Research Spaces

  • Support Scientific Innovation: Create environments that enable research, discovery and technical advancement.
  • Improve Operational Efficiency: Enhance workflows, equipment integration and day-to-day laboratory performance.
  • Enable Future Growth: Develop facilities that can adapt to changing programmes, technologies and organisational requirements.
  • Support Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Create connected environments that bring together research, analysis and workplace activities.
  • Enhance User Experience: Provide laboratory facilities that support both technical requirements and employee wellbeing.
  • Increase Flexibility and Adaptability: Design environments that can evolve alongside changing scientific and operational needs.

Why Organisations Choose COEL 

  • Specialist expertise across laboratories, cleanrooms and technical environments
  • Laboratory design, fit out, refurbishment and maintenance expertise
  • Delivery within occupied and operational facilities where continuity is critical
  • Experience across Cambridge UK’s research and innovation ecosystem
  • Expertise in laboratory-enabled workplaces and write-up environments
  • Support from facility upgrades to major transformation projects
  • Long-term maintenance and lifecycle support
  • Communication, responsiveness and collaboration recognised by laboratory clients

The Team
Behind the Spaces 

Our team combines expertise in laboratory planning, workplace design, construction and facilities management. Supported by specialists across consultancy, design, project delivery, furniture and maintenance, we provide a coordinated approach to improving, adapting and maintaining laboratory and research facilities.

Close-up of microscope lenses under laboratory lighting, representing advanced equipment used in COEL lab fit-out and refurbishment projects.

Ready to Discuss
Your Laboratory Project? 

Whether you’re upgrading an existing laboratory, creating specialist research facilities, improving workplace integration or planning for future growth, we can help create environments that support innovation, discovery and long-term success. 

Talk to our team about your laboratory project 

Frequently
Asked Questions

We create and refurbish a wide range of laboratory environments, including wet laboratories, dry laboratories, CL1 and CL2 laboratories, cleanrooms, quality control laboratories, pilot production facilities and specialist research spaces.

Yes. Many projects involve upgrading, adapting or reconfiguring existing facilities to improve functionality, accommodate new equipment or support changing operational requirements. 

Yes. We regularly deliver projects within live environments where research, teaching, testing or operational activities need to continue throughout the works. We’ve even installed temporary, modular lab spaces to ensure business continuity.

A laboratory-enabled workplace combines specialist laboratory facilities with write-up areas, workplaces, meeting rooms and collaboration spaces to support the way modern scientific organisations operate.

Yes. We help organisations create environments that support growth, from shared laboratory facilities and incubator spaces through to larger research, development and pilot production environments.

Laboratory and research environments are commonly found within life sciences, education, technology, engineering, manufacturing, energy and defence organisations.

Yes. Our experience includes supporting organisations with specialist environments where operational performance, technical infrastructure and controlled conditions are critical to successful operation.

Related
Sectors 

Our laboratory and research expertise supports organisations across a range of specialist sectors.

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