At BWBR, our focus on highly complex, owner-occupied facilities has enabled us to work on many amazing science + technology projects, and it’s an added bonus when our capabilities with one type of project inform and enhance the design of another. For the under-construction North Dakota State Lab, for example, we were able to bring our med device and pharma experience with highly regulated, workflow-dependent industries to bear alongside traditional lab planning.
Located on North Dakota’s State Capitol grounds adjacent to the State Museum, the project includes laboratory functions for both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Environmental Quality, enabling them to take advantage of shared resources, maximizing each department’s utilization of the facility.
Go with the (Work)flow
The logic of effective pharma space planning played a key role in informing design for the State Lab, as establishing dedicated paths for the flow of people, product, and waste is a key part of the design process for CGMP facilities. For the State Lab, BWBR worked with scientists from both departments to plan clear pathways for sample accessioning, testing materials, and waste. Managing these flows effectively will allow staff to efficiently process over 90,000 samples per year.
Efficient workflows also support extremely precise testing processes. For the most sensitive lab processes supporting PFAS, molecular, and microbiology testing, BWBR designed suites of rooms designed to minimize cross-contamination risks by separating prep, extraction, and instrumentation processes. Sample drop-off facilities located at the main facility entry simplify the process of receiving samples and minimize the risk of errors in this critical workflow.
Squeaky Clean Rooms
Like in a med device/pharma project, cleanability is a key consideration for an effective state lab facility. Although spaces at the North Dakota State Lab are not classified according to ISO/EU CGMP standards, many design approaches were applied which are intended to maximize the cleanliness of the facility, such as: material selections to minimize joints/seams, dedicated lab circulation to avoid public contact with laboratories, and pressure cascades to drive airflows away from the most sensitive testing processes. Preserving operations is of the highest importance, so the design supports ongoing cleaning and maintenance activities with minimal operational disruption. We also worked with the contractors to establish clean construction protocols as part of the construction documents, to minimize the risk of outside contamination.
Campus Chatter
The design is inspired by the prevailing architectural character and material palette of the Capitol campus, while at the same time visually acknowledging it as a high performing laboratory. However, it also takes cues from a pharma campus in its focus on functionality. Efficient parking and loading zones are critical, both in supporting workflows and for staff safety and comfort, when labs are running 24 hours a day. BWBR team also applied their experience with the nuances of pharma facility security to map out the appropriate levels of security for the spectrum of State Lab spaces ranging from fully public to tightly restricted.
Going on Tour
In order to show off production processes to outside investors and give regulators visual access to sensitive spaces, dedicated tour routes are common in pharma/med device facilities. Bringing that practice to a public facility opens up new possibilities for community engagement. The State Lab features a unique “citizen experience” zone, which allows the public to participate in guided tours of lab spaces without interrupting testing functions. By highlighting the power of science through a welcoming, daylit space, the feature serves to make the work visible and hopefully inspire young people to consider careers in the sciences—especially in the public sector.
Having it Both Ways
The combination of deep lab planning experience and pharma/medical device facility design is a powerhouse for enhancing operations and creating cutting-edge scientific environments. By tapping into both wells of knowledge, the BWBR team is able to innovate across project lines and deliver fresh, forward-thinking perspectives. Our goal is to be a trusted advisor to all of our clients, and that means leveraging insights to help take every project to the next level.
