In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the life sciences sector is expecting to see unprecedented gains in investment and employment, with companies in the biotech and pharma industries spurring a demand for new facilities to house their operations. However, like other industries, the construction of new life sciences facilities has been challenged by supply chain snarls as well as a lack of available skilled labor.

In order to satisfy their need for space, some life sciences companies are retrofitting existing office spaces. Leasing space in traditional office buildings can provide a solution for life sciences companies with dry lab needs, as well as those involved in cell and gene therapies and R&D. However, due to life sciences’ companies’ heavy power use, sufficient access to power must be ascertained before an existing facility is considered for a life sciences retrofit.

Of course, an existing space may not work for many life sciences companies, especially those needing wet labs. This is where innovative and collaborative facilities design comes into play. The design must be flexible enough to accommodate present and future equipment needs as well as collaboration of the scientists who work at the facility. It’s an advantage when those developing these facilities can speak the language of the wet lab tenants who will be utilizing the space.