M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Spring Preview —April 23 - May 20, 2021 — 13C
www.marej.com
A rchitectural and E ngineering
By Frank Angelini, AKF Group & Jamie Doran, AIA, JacobsWyper Architects Designing for life sciences with speed, flexibility and the right architect and engineering team
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n the realm of Life Science Real Estate, hiring the correct architectural and
for a learning curve with an in- experienced architect/engineer team will cost you time and money. The construction team also needs to understand the importance of certain construc- tion details that can impact the ability to have a finished facil - ity certified by various regula - tory agencies, like the FDA. At the beginning of a Life Science project, an exhaustive programming effort should be undertaken that is tailored to the client’s anticipated scien- tific practices or production. In a science facility, there may be unique concerns about biosafety
levels, lighting temperature and adjustability, vibrational or acoustical issues, the movement of air around a sensitive piece of imaging equipment, interior transportation paths for large research equipment or a mul- titude of other topics. There are many specific details to be discussed that are not issues in a typical office building project. When was the last time you had to ask a corporate client about their concerns for electromag- netic interference? Or about the quantities of hazardous materials that may be stored in the building? Our most basic
research equipment and tech- nologies change. When a scien- tific breakthrough occurs, there is likely a need for more space almost immediately. Not hav - ing the ability to accommodate growth quickly will have a sig- nificant impact on a company’s product development and de- livery. Planning for flexibility and quick expansion requires a team with an understand- ing of what it takes to find the right balance for what should be built into a site on day one and what can be connected or expanded in year two. continued on page 14C
programming questionnaires contain no less than 100 ques- tions about the architectural and engineering needs of a space meant to serve a Life Science tenant. The result of this initial effort allows the design team to quickly create a framework for the project, and to move the design and documentation process along efficiently. Flexibility in design is also key in Life Science. The design team needs to know how to create a space that can grow or shrink quickly as compa- nies expand or contract, or as
engineering team is just a s c r i t i c a l as designing with speed, e f f i c i e n c y and flexibil- i ty. Hi r ing a team with a long and s u c c e s s f u l h i s t o r y o f designing for Life Science clients will guide you in asking the right ques- tions and ex- ecuting on them appropriately.
Frank Angelini
Jamie Doran
Traditional opportunities in the commercial office market have declined significantly since the onset of the Corona- virus pandemic, leading to dra- matic growth in inquiries from Life Science tenants about con - verting existing office spaces. Receiving more than $1.9 bil- lion in NIH funding in 2019, Philadelphia is one of the na - tion’s leading cities in the Life Science industry. Within the Philadelphia market, demand for real estate outweighs the supply and with top talent from UPenn, Drexel, Temple, CHOP and Jefferson Health, the need for real estate will continue to steadily increase as more funding becomes available. As Life Sciences—specifically the Cell & Gene Therapy indus- try— have gained momentum in this region, there has been a shift in the way projects are structured. Many companies, start-ups in particular, lack key personnel such as a Direc- tor of Facilities to guide the company’s immediate and future needs. With an experi- enced architect and engineer helping to guide the project, clients can rest assured they are in good hands and that their project is likely to come in on time, within budget and with appropriate safety mea- sures taken. Specialized Life Science facil - ities have bigger safety factors to consider than traditional office building projects. There are additional building and life safety codes and industry regulations to follow that the architect and engineer must be familiar with. Accounting
Creating Spaces That Promote Healing, Comfort, and Finding Cures akfgroup.com
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