Anticipating the smart laboratory
8 Oct 2021
Environments impact our behaviours and interactions with one another, and Nick Jones believes the smart money is on agile facilities designed around employee wellbeing.
Our research and observations have scientists, innovators and researchers asking for similar types of environments in the laboratory and its surroundings.
The main challenges we face in creating state of the art laboratory spaces is firstly that science and research are moving forward rapidly and second guessing this rapidly changing environment whilst anticipating new forms of research and technology is both fascinating yet inspiring for us all.
Every workplace is unique, specifically designed to meet the needs and requirements of individuals and the organisations they serve. Company cultures, workflow processes and business objectives will all influence an organisation’s greatest asset; its people. It is integral that laboratory facilities maximise an individual’s potential and are designed for human behaviours. Environments impact our behaviours and interactions with one another and when these ergonomic factors are introduced effectively, it becomes a strategic tool that can support employee wellbeing, and ultimately help the business to prosper.
Over the last 10 years we have seen an increase in demand for agile office spaces. It has meant that staff are less reliant on fixed workstations and have the choice to select a number of work settings in an environment which is best suited to the task they are doing. Our research and observations have scientists, innovators and researchers asking for similar types of environments in the laboratory and its surroundings. After all, it is a workplace that requires intricate focus, collaboration and a variety of work settings that are suited to the task a scientist may be doing and, above all, ensuring health and safety. With this quick, easily adaptable activity-based working concept, the need for future proof, modular laboratory space has never been bigger allowing organisations to easily meet demand as appropriate, and foster interchangable, collaborative working.
Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, and cloud computing-based web platforms enable new and novel forms of research and interaction. These technologies are not only impacting the way scientists work by removing the laborious and repetitive tasks such as loading and unloading instrumentation to improve workflows but allowing us to automate multiple experiments or components at the same time.The Smart Laboratory is an end-to-end solution that analyses your business and allows the capture of critical requirements to create workplaces that are designed for human behaviours and workplace interaction. Several stages are included within a guided process from workplace consultancy, through the development of a bespoke agile activity-based workspace to create a unique solution suited to those individuals and the organisation.
Our latest whitepaper considers the challenge we face in creating state of the art laboratory spaces. Whether your current laboratory suite is not fit for purpose and needs a complete refurbishment, or whether your lease is expiring, or whether perhaps you have run out of space, in this guide we want to help you plan a successful outcome. You can download the 14 tips for a smart laboratory whitepaper via our website.
Author: Nick Jones is Laboratory Design Director at Principle Laboratories principlelabs.co.uk
