P-DfMA sees the project as a whole, understanding the positive and negative effect of each design decision on as many other aspects of the project as possible; seeking shared efficiencies between all elements of the building.
In such cases, rather than re-clad the building (which defeats most of the point of a conversion) a possible solution is a ‘box in a box’ lab fit-out, though this will be more expensive and will reduce net usable space..Furthermore, given how much energy labs consume compared to an office it may be sensible to improve the performance of an older façade, which will, of course, add cost and programme, and there can be other issues around cladding, for example, some systems and materials used in offices are not accepted by life science businesses and insurers for fire safety and loss prevention reasons.. Office finishes are unlikely to be suitable for lab use, and it is almost always best to complete a full strip-out of the office at the start of a project.
This will simplify design and construction in the long-run, and will often expose hidden defects or complications (see below.)Raised access floors will also ideally be sealed or removed to minimise future sources of contamination.For the lab fit-out itself, appropriate finishes must of course be selected, and this will be based on a wide-range of criteria such as cleaning material compatibility.. 10.
Defects.. Hidden defects in existing office buildings can add unexpected cost and delay to lab conversion projects..Existing offices, like all buildings, will almost always harbour some latent issues that will add complication during design or construction.
This can range from old plant in need of an upgrade, to asbestos or structural defects.
Office to lab conversions can make good economic sense, however risks and realistic cost and programme contingencies should be captured from day one to avoid future disappointment.Working this way, components or systems (including those related to platform design (P-DfMA), or in some cases modular construction) can be more readily fabricated in off-site facilities and transported to site for final assembly.
On-site operations can also model themselves on manufacturing processes to provide higher efficiencies, predictability and reduce waste.In addition, this creates many more opportunities to implement automation and digital tools, particularly in off-site manufacturing..
Previously, we have covered the general benefits of discrete event simulation (DEM) in construction (https://www.brydenwood.co.uk/discreteeventsimulation/s97989/), and the increasing use of these powerful tools as a core part of automation in construction.The need for these tools is on the rise as design and construction continue to tackle some of the largest issues an industry could face: low and declining productivity, poor predictability, shrinking workforce and skills shortages.