Laboratory Design

At Laboratory Design, we provide professional laboratory design services for research facilities, universities, schools, healthcare organisations, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology businesses, manufacturing facilities, testing laboratories, and commercial organisations throughout the UK. Our services are designed to create safe, efficient, and practical laboratory environments that support scientific research, education, testing, manufacturing, and healthcare operations.

Laboratories require significantly more planning than conventional commercial spaces due to their specialist workflows, equipment, ventilation requirements, utilities, storage, and safety considerations. A professionally designed laboratory should support efficient movement, minimise cross-contamination risks where appropriate, accommodate specialist equipment, and provide suitable working environments for laboratory personnel.

From teaching laboratories and research facilities to pharmaceutical and industrial laboratories, Laboratory Design provides a structured service covering feasibility assessments, space planning, workflow analysis, laboratory layouts, furniture specification, mechanical and electrical coordination, ventilation planning, laboratory services, compliance considerations, and construction documentation.

Why Choose Laboratory Design?

Choosing Laboratory Design means working with specialists who understand that successful laboratory environments require careful planning around operational efficiency, health and safety, specialist services, and regulatory requirements. Our design approach considers applicable duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 together with relevant legislation and industry guidance applicable to laboratory environments.

Where hazardous substances may be handled, consideration should be given to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Laboratory layouts can be developed to support suitable segregation of hazardous materials, safe handling procedures, appropriate storage, and engineering controls designed to reduce employee exposure where applicable.

Where laboratory activities generate hazardous dusts, fumes, vapours, gases, or aerosols, suitable Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), fume cupboards, extraction systems, or other engineering controls may be incorporated into the laboratory design. Relevant Health and Safety Executive guidance, including HSG258, may also be considered where appropriate.

Laboratory designs can also take account of the Building Regulations, including relevant requirements relating to fire safety, accessibility, ventilation, sanitation, and electrical installations. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and Equality Act 2010 may also require consideration depending on the project.

Where dangerous substances are present, applicable duties under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) may also influence the design of laboratory spaces, storage arrangements, ventilation systems, and electrical equipment.

By choosing Laboratory Design, organisations receive a professional laboratory planning service focused on safety, regulatory considerations, operational efficiency, and long-term laboratory performance.

How Much Does Laboratory Design Cost?

The cost of professional laboratory design ranges from £50 to £200+ per m².

 The cost of laboratory design consultancy depends on the complexity and scope of the project.

Smaller laboratory refurbishment projects with relatively straightforward layouts may typically cost approximately £50 to £100 per m² for the design element. More complex laboratory facilities requiring specialist coordination, multiple services, technical calculations, and detailed construction documentation may range from approximately £100 to £200+ per m².

Alternatively, some laboratory design consultants may provide fixed project fees depending on the building size, complexity, and required level of design.

The final cost depends on the laboratory type, building size, specialist equipment, mechanical and electrical requirements, ventilation systems, containment requirements, regulatory considerations, and level of technical documentation required.

These figures are indicative UK estimates rather than fixed quotations. Laboratory Design provides tailored pricing following an assessment of the proposed laboratory, building, and operational requirements.

What Laboratory Design Services Are Available?

Laboratory Design provides a comprehensive range of specialist laboratory planning and design services, including:

• Laboratory space planning – Developing practical layouts that maximise efficiency and workflow.
• Research laboratory design – Designing facilities for scientific research and development.
• Educational laboratory design – Creating practical teaching laboratories for schools, colleges, and universities.
• Healthcare laboratory design – Planning laboratories supporting diagnostic and healthcare activities.
• Pharmaceutical laboratory design – Designing specialist pharmaceutical research and testing facilities.
• Industrial laboratory design – Creating laboratories supporting manufacturing, testing, and quality control.
• Laboratory refurbishment design – Developing layouts for upgrading existing laboratory facilities.
• Mechanical and electrical coordination – Planning laboratory utilities, power supplies, water services, drainage, and specialist building services.
• Laboratory ventilation planning – Coordinating ventilation, extraction systems, and environmental controls.
• Laboratory furniture specification – Selecting suitable laboratory benches, storage, workstations, and specialist furniture.

What Types of Laboratories Can Be Designed?

Laboratory Design provides solutions for a wide range of specialist laboratory environments, including:

• Research laboratories – Designed to support scientific investigation and product development.
• Teaching laboratories – Practical learning environments for schools, colleges, and universities.
• Healthcare laboratories – Supporting diagnostic, analytical, and healthcare-related services.
• Pharmaceutical laboratories – Designed for pharmaceutical research, formulation, and testing.
• Biotechnology laboratories – Supporting biological research and biotechnology operations.
• Quality control laboratories – Facilities used for product testing and manufacturing quality assurance.
• Environmental laboratories – Supporting environmental sampling and analytical testing.
• Industrial laboratories – Laboratories designed for manufacturing, engineering, materials testing, and process development.

The most suitable design depends on the activities undertaken, equipment requirements, occupancy levels, specialist services, ventilation needs, storage requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations.

What Is the Professional Laboratory Design Process?

The Laboratory Design process begins with an assessment of the client's operational requirements, building constraints, laboratory activities, equipment, staffing levels, and future growth plans. Understanding how the laboratory will operate is fundamental to developing an effective design.

Space planning is then carried out to establish practical workflows, equipment locations, circulation routes, storage areas, preparation spaces, and service zones. The objective is to create an efficient working environment while supporting safe movement and appropriate separation of laboratory activities where required.

Mechanical and electrical services are coordinated alongside the laboratory layout. This may include electrical supplies, specialist sockets, water services, drainage, gases, compressed air, ventilation, extraction systems, lighting, data connections, and other building services required for laboratory operations.

Laboratory furniture, worktops, storage systems, fume cupboards, sinks, safety equipment, and specialist workstations are incorporated into the design according to operational requirements.

Where LEV systems, fume cupboards, clean areas, or specialist environmental controls are required, these are coordinated alongside the wider building services to support safe laboratory operation.

Detailed drawings, specifications, and construction information can then be prepared to support the fit-out and installation stages of the project.

What Regulations Apply to Laboratory Design?

Laboratory design may be influenced by several pieces of UK legislation depending on the activities carried out within the facility.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 establishes general duties relating to workplace health and safety.

COSHH applies where hazardous substances may expose employees to risks requiring suitable control measures.

The Building Regulations apply to many aspects of laboratory construction and refurbishment, including fire safety, ventilation, sanitation, structural requirements, accessibility, and energy efficiency.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 may apply to fire safety arrangements within non-domestic buildings.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 may apply where laboratory design forms part of construction or refurbishment projects.

Where dangerous substances are handled, DSEAR may require consideration during laboratory planning.

Additional sector-specific guidance and standards may also apply depending on whether the laboratory supports healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, biotechnology, research, or industrial manufacturing.

How Long Does Laboratory Design Take?

Professional laboratory design typically takes approximately 2 to 12 weeks, depending on the complexity and scale of the project.

Smaller laboratory refurbishment designs may be completed within approximately 2 to 4 weeks.

Medium-sized laboratory projects involving multiple disciplines and specialist building services typically require approximately 4 to 8 weeks.

Large pharmaceutical, research, healthcare, or industrial laboratory developments involving complex services, specialist equipment, containment requirements, or extensive technical coordination may require 8 to 12 weeks or longer.

The overall programme may also be affected by site surveys, client approvals, specialist equipment selection, planning requirements, and coordination with architects, engineers, and other consultants.

Laboratory Design provides project-specific programmes based on the building, operational requirements, and technical complexity of each project.

Why Hire Professional Laboratory Design Specialists?

Professional laboratory design requires specialist knowledge of laboratory workflows, building services, ventilation systems, specialist furniture, utilities, safety requirements, and regulatory obligations.

A poorly planned laboratory can reduce productivity, limit future expansion, increase maintenance costs, create inefficient workflows, and make future compliance more difficult.

Professional laboratory designers coordinate the entire facility rather than considering each element independently. Equipment locations influence utility requirements, ventilation systems, extraction layouts, drainage, electrical installations, storage, and circulation routes.

Laboratory Design approaches every project as a complete operational environment, considering laboratory activities, personnel, equipment, specialist services, safety systems, storage, future flexibility, and long-term operational efficiency.

The objective is to deliver practical laboratory environments that support safe working practices, efficient operations, regulatory responsibilities, and future organisational growth.

Get a Quote from Laboratory Design

If your organisation requires a new laboratory design, refurbishment plans, or specialist laboratory planning services, Laboratory Design can provide a tailored solution for your project.

Laboratory Design provides research laboratory design, educational laboratory design, pharmaceutical laboratory planning, healthcare laboratory design, industrial laboratory layouts, laboratory refurbishment design, laboratory furniture specification, ventilation planning, mechanical and electrical coordination, and complete laboratory design services throughout the UK.

Contact Laboratory Design today to discuss your laboratory project, operational requirements, and facility objectives, and receive a tailored quotation for professional laboratory design services.