Overcoming the Technical Challenges of Designing Process-Driven GMP Facilities
Designing GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) laboratories for product scale-up and/or small-volume manufacturing is a complex, often expensive facility undertaking. GMP-compliant labs are becoming increasingly common as more organizations want to improve patient safety even for innovative products and treatments that are still under development. Building even a small GMP facility involves meeting strict international regulatory standards, resolving numerous technical issues, and absorbing inevitably higher costs. Extensive pre-planning, cost analysis, and specialized consulting are necessary to mitigate these challenges.

Four North American Facilities Face the Challenges of Building GMP-Compliant Labs
Newly developed GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) core labs are aiming to enable a wide range of biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations to deliver innovative products to market faster. An increase in the construction of GMP-compliant labs in Canada and the U.S. highlights the need for validated facilities that can help academic research organizations capitalize on leading-edge biotechnology products, conduct clinical trials, or participate in translational research.

Effort Nets More Than $3 Million in Savings and a More Efficient Operation
It is hard to think of hospitals as productions lines, with patients as the products and clinicians as the operators. However, there is value in designing a healthcare facility to operate efficiently as possible, because efficiency reduces waste--of both money and time--and rededicates resources to the important business of treating and caring for patients.

"Priority Conversations," Use of "Big Room," and Willingness to Experiment Facilitate Efforts
Building systems--mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), fire protection, and drywall--account for a significant portion of the cost to construct high-tech facilities such as hospitals and laboratories. MEP systems on technically challenging projects may account for as much as 50 percent of the total project cost. A challenge to design and construction specialists is to fit ever-more interconnected and dense systems into smaller spaces, and do so under increasingly stringent time constraints. Coordination is of the utmost importance. As the complexity of facilities increases, better practices for collaboration must be developed in order to effectively address project delivery challenges.

A Collaborative Effort Between Designer and Estimator for Effective Cost Estimating
Undertaking a new construction project is an inherently risky business. The long interval from project conception until completion leaves the door wide open to cost increases. Inflation, change in staff, technology advancements, new or discontinued products all make it precarious to predict the final result.

New Chemistry Lab Features Air Supply Plenum System Ceiling
Transforming innovative science into breakthrough therapies and products is an art form at Genentech Inc. in South San Francisco, Calif. The company's new chemistry lab features an innovative design that is ideal for researchers working in an environment laden with fume hoods. The design incorporates the use of an air supply plenum system ceiling where a perforated suspended tile ceiling is used to create an air plenum to deliver a high volume of air at a low velocity.

Scheduling, Knowledge of Building Type Prove Crucial
Constructing a CL3 (containment level three, the Canadian equivalent of BSL-3) containment facility is very different from constructing a CL2 lab. For a facility to achieve CL3 containment, everything must be constructed right--and in the right order. Factors such as scheduling, project management experience, and contractor qualifications--important in any project--assume a much higher level of significance in a CL3 facility.