Scienion
Details
Brief
Scienion, a BICO company, is a global market leader in precision dispensing and biosensor technologies, with a mission to innovate cost-effective and reliable testing platforms for public health and environmental protection.
An expanding company in the life science market, Scienion had a number of UK operations based out of separate facilities. They wanted specialist healthcare fit-out contractors that could design and fit-out a single workspace to bring their sales, laboratory, support and manufacturing functions together under one roof, enabling employees and field staff to work more efficiently and collaboratively, as well as attract top talent.
Axis House was selected because of our ability to deliver the entire package; from consultation and space planning through to design and build. Our specialist knowledge of laboratory and clean room fit-out requirements, alongside design capabilities to suit their bespoke requirements, further convinced Scienion that we were the right partners for them.
Solution
Working to a hard deadline of 12 weeks, we completely re-fit the 12,000 sq ft office space, stripping it back to shell and core before creating the new CAT B space featuring high-specification laboratories, clean room, office space, breakout area, equipment, furniture, and fixtures.
As the brief called for Scienion’s sales, laboratory, support and manufacturing staff to occupy the same space, carefully managed mechanical and electrical, plumbing, and data cabling works had to be completed before work could commence on creating the new layout. Axis House also supplied and installed a special HEPA air filtration system for the laboratories, creating a new suspended ceiling, and accommodating a high-spec, ISO 5 clean room into the design.
A number of specialist design features were incorporated.
Scienion particularly wanted to maximise natural daylight and create a tangible connection between the laboratory and office areas. One way we addressed this, was to install half-height double glazing around the laboratory, enabling natural daylight to flow uninhibited from one side of the building to the other. These glass panels also helped achieve a feeling of integration between the teams without compromising the integrity of the lab.
Hot desking for field staff, a specialist write-up area and a clean room were incorporated into the design, as well as a sleek reception and kitchen/break-out area.
High-spec AV equipment, acoustically treated meeting rooms and pods where team members could take calls or converse in privacy was an important aspect of the brief.
One of the challenges we helped overcome was the difficulty Scienion encountered sourcing a suitable air conditioning system that would work within the confines of the space. We solved this by accommodating the air conditioning units in an undercroft (service area) beneath the building, then penetrating the slab and feeding cabling up through the slab, as opposed to down through the ceiling, as is customary.
With branding and colour palettes influenced by Scienion’s parent company BICO, and a laboratory infrastructure anchored around accommodating the company’s state-of-the-art equipment, the result is a cohesive, future-proof and highly functional space that really hit the brief for staff, stimulating creativity, and inspiring confidence in the brand for all visitors.
“From initial discussion to project completion, the collaboration with Axis House was one of trust and respect built from highly effective communications and meticulous planning by their teams who delivered a truly first-rate result. This was a significant project for the UK company – we felt in safe hands with Axis House and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”
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