Designing Next-Gen Pharma Labs

How are modern pharma labs being designed with practicality and connectivity to ensure streamlined processes and happy staff?

Chris Stewart at Area Laboratories

As the pharmaceutical industry evolves, so too must the spaces that support its innovation. Modern laboratories are being reimagined to keep pace with the digitalisation of R&D, the drive for sustainability and the growing demand for adaptable environments that can pivot to meet new scientific challenges. The next generation of pharma labs is not defined by walls and benches alone, but by flexibility, connectivity, and a design philosophy that supports both people and scientific progress.

From fixed facilities to flexible frameworks

Traditional lab environments were often rigid and specialised, designed for single functions or specific processes. Today’s labs must do far more with less space, less time and fewer environmental resources. The trend towards modular and reconfigurable layouts allows facilities to evolve alongside scientific priorities. Movable benches, adjustable service grids, and plug-and-play utilities enable teams to adapt workspaces rapidly as research needs shift.

This flexibility is especially valuable in the fast-changing world of biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapies, where projects move quickly from concept to clinical testing. By embedding adaptability into the physical design, labs can reduce downtime, avoid costly refits and accommodate multidisciplinary teams under one roof.

Digital integration and the rise of the smart lab

Pharma’s digital transformation is reshaping laboratory infrastructure. Data-driven science demands environments that are as intelligent as the equipment within them. The idea of the smart lab brings together connected technologies – from Internet of Things sensors and automated sample tracking, to artificial intelligence-powered environmental monitoring – to enhance accuracy, efficiency and compliance.

For designers, this shift presents new challenges and opportunities. Physical layouts must now consider data flows alongside airflow. Cable management, connectivity hubs and digital redundancy become part of spatial planning. The design must support not only ergonomic efficiency, but also the secure and seamless transfer of information.

Incorporating digital infrastructure early in the design process ensures that laboratories can adopt new technologies without costly disruption later. A well-designed smart lab anticipates future data needs, enabling scientists to focus on discovery rather than device management.

Sustainability as a design imperative

Labs consume up to ten times more energy per square metre than typical office environments.1 The next generation of pharma labs must balance performance with sustainability, minimising carbon impact while maintaining the precision conditions required for research and testing.

Designers are increasingly focusing on energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, low carbon materials, and intelligent building management systems that monitor and adjust energy use in real time.

Ventilation rates, typically one of the largest energy drivers, can be optimised through demand-based control and careful zoning of high and low risk areas. Beyond operational efficiency, sustainability extends to how buildings are planned and maintained. Designing with circularity in mind – such as specifying materials that can be reused, reconfigured or recycled – supports both cost- effectiveness and environmental responsibility. The lab of the future will not only be smart and flexible, but also environmentally accountable.

There is growing recognition that laboratories are not just technical environments; they are workplaces. The well-being of scientists, engineers and technicians directly influences productivity, retention and innovation.

Modern lab design is increasingly human-centred, integrating natural light, acoustic control, ergonomic layouts and shared social spaces. These factors help reduce fatigue, support collaboration, and create environments where people feel valued and motivated. In an industry where competition for talent is fierce, a well-designed lab can be a key differentiator.

Hybrid working models are also affecting laboratory planning. While many lab-based roles require physical presence, digital collaboration and remote data access mean that offices and lab areas are now being planned together, allowing smoother transitions between hands-on experimentation and analytical or computational tasks.

Cost, return on investment and data security

For many small-to-medium enterprises and start-ups in the UK life sciences sector, budget pressures and the need to demonstrate clear return on investment can limit the adoption of advanced design principles. As a result, the most progressive lab environments are often being driven by large multinationals and specialist developers who view future-ready facilities as essential for attracting and retaining leading scientific talent. Alongside this, the journey towards smart labs brings its own data challenges. Overcoming data silos, managing cybersecurity risks and ensuring robust protection of intellectual property are major concerns, particularly when cloud-based systems are involved. Many teams fear service outages or breaches that could compromise sensitive work. Addressing these challenges through secure digital infrastructure and clear governance frameworks will be essential if smart laboratory design is to achieve its full potential.

Future-proofing for uncertain times

If recent years have shown anything, it is that agility is critical. Global supply chain pressures, regulatory shifts and emerging therapeutic modalities all demand laboratories that can evolve quickly. Designing with flexibility, both physical and operational, provides resilience against uncertainty.

Future-proofing involves more than just physical adaptability. It also means strategic planning for long-term change. Modular utilities, accessible infrastructure and scalable layouts ensure that labs can accommodate future equipment, regulatory updates or entirely new disciplines without disruption. An investment in flexibility today will define how successfully organisations can respond to the scientific demands of tomorrow.

As pharmaceutical innovation accelerates, the lab has become a living ecosystem that must continuously adapt to new methods, technologies and sustainability goals. Designing for the next generation of pharma labs means creating spaces that empower scientists, protect resources and anticipate change.

By placing flexibility, digital integration and human well-being at the centre of design, the industry can build environments that are not only fit for purpose today, but ready to support the breakthroughs of the future.

References
1. Visit: ucl.ac.uk/sustainable/take-action/staff-action/leaf-laboratory-efficiency-assessment-framework