Exyte's Future Lab - future of life science innovation

The future of life science innovation with Exyte’s Future Lab

In the world of pharmaceuticals, the time it takes to develop and bring new products and medicines to market is critical. Despite this, one of the biggest hurdles is the lengthy process of designing and constructing laboratories that support research and development. Traditional labs are often rigid in design and specific to the drug or product being developed or manufactured, meaning they cannot be reused or modified easily or quickly for other products or purposes in the future.

Enter an Exyte solution: The Future Lab.

The Exyte Future Lab is a concept developed in-house by Exyte Subject Matter Expert, Mark Stephens. Bringing more than 30 years of experience in architecture and planning, he has designed a laboratory that embraces flexibility, modularity, speed, and sustainability. The Exyte Future Lab is a space designed to adapt to the evolving needs of scientific research while prioritizing collaboration and the integration of innovation, digitalization, and data-driven technologies to streamline workflows.

“The idea behind Exyte’s Future Lab is to create laboratories that can be easily reconfigured to suit different research needs,” explains Stephens. “Within days, the entire lab environment - from equipment and airflow to lab furniture and services - can be adapted for a new project. This is due to modular components that function like Lego blocks, which make the design and purpose of the facilities very flexible.” The lab’s modular structure even includes steel prefabricated laboratory components and services in the ceiling void that can be manufactured offsite, enabling faster and more efficient assembly on location.

This approach not only minimizes construction time but also allows for parallel workflows and better site safety. By having the modular structure already prepared and ready for implementation, construction can proceed simultaneously with other phases of the project, which saves time during the building process. “For example, it takes just four days to reconfigure a Future Lab, versus three months to construct a brand new one,” says Stephens. “The ability to reconfigure and modify easily will also save clients millions in the long term, over the life cycle of the building.”

But flexibility isn’t the only priority with Exyte’s Future Lab, it’s also designed with sustainability in mind, as the modular design allows for labs to be reconfigured and customized multiple times for the research and development of different pharmaceutical products. “Think of it like a Meccano set, where different components and pieces can be switched around and changed to ensure a space that suits different and individual client needs,” says Stephens. “For example, the wall panels in Exyte’s Future Labs are modular, meaning they can be removed, repositioned, or used to subdivide rooms multiple times, allowing for flexible space customization.

All services, from electrical to HVAC, are located in the ceiling and connect to lab benches and equipment through flexible connections. ”This allows large pieces of equipment to be easily disconnected, moved, and reconnected without major reconstruction. The entire infrastructure is designed to be adaptable, ensuring the lab can evolve alongside the research it supports. Designing a lab in this way allows clients to reuse and recycle the laboratory easily for many other projects to come. “Sustainability is a non-negotiable for both Exyte and our clients, and the Future Lab is one way we can ensure we are helping to achieve these goals,” adds Stephens.

Digitalization that drives scientific discovery

At the heart of Exyte’s Future Labs is digitalization. By integrating tools such as digital twins and smart building management systems (BMS), the Future Lab can constantly monitor and optimize energy consumption. The BMS collects data on the lab’s usage, whether that be monitoring energy consumption, temperature controlling, or adjusting lighting and ventilation based on the time of day or type of experiments being conducted. This real-time analysis enables the lab to operate more efficiently and therefore cuts unnecessary energy usage and lowers costs.

Additionally, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the way labs function. Delivery robots and collaborative robots (cobots) assist with routine tasks, such as transporting consumables or performing repetitive steps in experiments. Stephens explains that this automation frees up valuable time for scientists, allowing them to focus on the intellectual aspects of their research. “These technological advancements, combined with smart infrastructure, make Future Labs not only adaptable but also more intelligent, driving forward scientific discovery with efficiency and precision.”

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