Labs are expensive to build and operate, and usually have a large environmental footprint. A new report has been compiled that examines how better use can be made of labs and how costs and environmental impacts can be reduced. Its author Professor Peter James, director of the Safe, Sustainable, Successful Laboratories (S-Lab) initiative, says: “There are growing financial and regulatory pressures on all lab owners to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of staff, space, equipment and resources. Best practice was recognised in the 2012 S-Lab Awards, and presented at the inaugural S-Lab Conference, held at York’s National Science Learning Centre in June.”
At the conference, a presentation by Peter Jackson, estates and facilities manager, Health Protection Agency, covered the importance of design consultation in new and refurbished facilities. He said the best designs are those that put people first, including those peripheral to the design process, such as technical support or maintenance staff, and that take time to understand their views and working practices, and continue to involve them through design, construction and commissioning. An example is UCLAN’s JB Firth Building, which undertook detailed analysis of lab work patterns to optimise layouts and reduce travel distances.
Another presentation by Neil Crossan, a project manager at AstraZeneca, on its new Macclesfield building highlighted how an approach of this kind helped to reduce the capital cost associated with each scientist from £314,000 to £255,000. A ‘before and after’ survey conducted by S-Lab also found higher productivity and staff satisfaction.
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