What are the advantages of using a laboratory specialist when designing and building a modern lab that meets the needs of technicians, students and scientists?

In short, the simple answer is that you receive a quality facility that takes your specific needs and wants into consideration, and answers them with eminent consultation, design, construction and on-going maintenance. The solution to your needs is completely tailored, down to the very last detail. Whereas general designers may offer inadequate designs and construction, a specialist like Beryl Labs has a deep understanding of lab dynamics, procedures and other cost effective considerations.

Laboratory Projects can no longer be left to general contractors, as each lab requires a thorough investigation into layout considerations, equipment demands, and high quality products that have a long lifespan. The longer lifespan and increased efficiency of labs produced by specialists effectively off-sets higher initial costs when compared to non-specialists.

We estimate that an astounding 70% of the labs in South Africa are being built by non-specialist kitchen companies and shop-fitters.
The renovation cycle of labs in South Africa are 20-30 years, often longer. Specialists maximize the investment over the 20-30 year period. Therefore, it’s a long-term investment.

The disadvantages of using a non-specialist are well documented by researchers, and can result in decreased productivity, safety hazards and a need to continually updated obsolete laboratories. Safety alone is a top-priority for lab managers, and any non-specialist designed lab may not take the precautions in ensuring a safe and well-run facility. Simply put, a kitchen designer may well not understand the basic principles and issues pertinent to expert requirements that are demanded from the scientific community.

Beryl Laboratory Solutions are specialists that offer completely bespoke laboratories for those in search of lab facilities that ultimately increase productivity, safety, and return on investment.

In a very informing article by Elizabeth Sandquist, “How to become a good lab manager”, the author whittles down essential elements for correct lab management into 4 easily digestible and implementable practices, each of which is a must in the recipe for a research facility that consistently produces work of the highest standards. Let’s take a brief look at what she writes:

Number 1 on the “to-do” list is planning. In many ways, this practice is ubiquitous in any managerial position, but it may be over-looked in daily goings-on. Remembering the big picture will guide the prioritisation of tasks and contribute significantly to cost-saving and efficiency as inessentials can be identified and done away with.

Second on the list, organisation, is as common in managerial positions as planning; but, as many managers will attest to, it is often trickier than it seems. When organising, a multitude of objectives, timelines, budgets, etc. must be borne in mind, and each must be optimised to achieve best-in-class results. Even if the lab manager is naturally talented in juggling the above elements, a short course in project management may prove to be extremely beneficial.

Number three on Sandquist’s list is leadership. Simply put, lab workers should trust that their work is goal-directed and that there is a leader navigating the ship to success. Leadership styles are very varied, and it is a matter of much controversy whether there is one, single style that outshines other styles. Whatever leadership style you use, the most important facet of your relationship with your researchers is trust: second-guessing and uncertainty waste time.

Fourth on the list is lab control, but I’d prefer to call it oversight. Here, the manager takes an active role in engaging with employees and their respective projects to ensure that work is on track and correct. Research experience is a vital component here as part of oversight includes the ability to intervene positively in work should it be, in whatever way, somewhat awry or off-base.

By implementing the above four practices in the lab setting, a manager will be empowered to plan projects properly, increase efficiency through correct organisation, lead individual team members to collective success and ensure that best practices are being used to produce the best possible results.

With this said, however, a lab design and construction specialist that thoroughly understands your needs and wants will cut through many of the issues that arise when a project relies on the knowledge of a disparate group of individuals functioning together. It is quite typical in the industry for a project to be executed based on the input of varying teams that each play a part in the process of construction and renovation. A hypothetical example may be described thus: an administrative body will identify the need for new labs or an existing lab to be updated, and professional services (an architect and engineer) will be approached.

An experienced lab manager will then provide a brief from which to work, and the professional team will remain in constant communication with the manager, both in the design phase and in the construction phase. A weakness may arise here: due to a lack of communication or even miscommunication, a variety of problems could emerge which incur extra costs and time. Using a laboratory design and construction specialist will certainly avoid these types of disruptions, as a specialist is already well acquainted with the myriad of lab processes and needs, and can, from the outset, pre-empt possible problems and act accordingly.

A specialist is knowledgeable about machinery and instrumentation, the appropriateness and cost of materials, human habits within a lab, and best in class practices (to ensure optimal lab performance). This is to say that a lab specialist is empowered in understanding the “big picture” for the lab, as well as in understanding the finer nuances of the problems posed by a project that requires considerable technical knowledge and expertise.

In moving forward, let’s set up a new hypothetical: lab construction work that includes a specialist company that will see the project through from the very outset to long term maintenance. In this example, an admin body will once again identify the need for new development or renovation. The body will approach the specialist, and the specialist, in concert with an experienced lab manager, will develop a strong and detailed brief together. The more comprehensive the brief, the better the initial design work. It is important to note that a specialist already has a very clear idea as to what information they will need from the lab manager.

Even at this initial stage, a complete plan will emerge; not only in terms of lab planning and detailing, but also in terms of a project management schedule. This schedule is of vital importance as it defines costs and time periods, as well as detailing the disruption to lab functioning should the project be a renovation that takes place while the lab/other labs keep working. Which hypothetical scenario would you prefer to work with? Our guess is that the second holds much greater certainty that the project will encounter fewer unseen problems, run more smoothly, and come in on budget and on time. Simply put, it is much more likely to produce a lab of superior quality.

Beryl Labs is the perfect partner for your laboratory construction needs, and our experience is a guarantee that your lab will have the cutting edge advantage.