ISPEN – THC Laboratory
ISPEN
The Opportunity
- Austin collaborated with Ipsen to design and deliver a state of the art flexible laboratory conforming to Ipsen’s toxic handling criteria THC2 standard for working with non-toxic biologics. The laboratory accommodated analytical equipment to support analysis of inhouse samples and improve product and process understanding.
- This entailed:
- an airlock lobby to link the laboratory and the existing second floor THC2 laboratory suite.
- a refuge lobby from the laboratory with an exit directly to the central staircase
- an equipment store room to support laboratory functions
- provision of a dedicated ventilation system allowing the THC2 laboratory to be constructed without interruption to the main building systems.
- a rigorous security philosophy to meet Ipsen’s and the Home Office antiterrorism legislation.
The Solution
- Part of the success of this facility is directly attributed to:
- Austin’s previous experience, during the design and delivery of the Phase 1 works, which gave consideration to the future development of the fallow area on the 2nd floor.
- close collaboration between Ipsen and Austin facilitated early identification of challenges.
- designing in 3D using Revit (BIM) to provide certainty on delivery and maintenance requirements. This meant there were very few site changes and therefore more control and certainty on cost and time.
- Challenges presented included:
- carrying out construction work on the second floor which already accommodates a fully operational laboratory facility with stringent containment protocols.
- minimising access into functional occupied areas to implement services “tie-ins”.
- optimising the available space at roof level for the dedicated ventilation plant.