CREJ

/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / DECEMBER 2016

Striking the Right Biotech Workplace Balance

ver 30,000 Coloradans work in the bio-

science field. The biotechnology industry

has experienced accelerated growth in

recent years. The major factor influencing this

growth has been large pharmaceutical compa-

nies looking for their next blockbuster drug cou-

pled with an aging population facing a long list

of chronic diseases.

Colorado is home to numerous bioscience re-

search assets that have demonstrated a strong

commitment to building research excellence. The

Fitzsimons Life Science District and the adjacent

Anschutz Medical Campus are among the most am-

bitious medical developments ($5.2 billion) in the

nation. Colorado ranked 12th in number of U.S. pat-

ents granted – a key indicator of future innovation

in the marketplace.

Bioscience employers are engaged in a heated tal-

ent battle, looking to hire from a small pool of elite

scientists from major universities and institutions.

Additionally, biotech workplaces themselves are

changing under technology’s influence. Scientists

are spending less time in the lab due to increased

automation of tasks and the ability to gather data

remotely over the internet. Knoll invested in this

growing vertical market research to cover key

trends, and provides planning and design strate-

gies that biotech companies can implement within

their workplaces.

Priorities of the Modern Biotech Workplace

Several factors are driving up the cost and com-

plexity of the biotech workspaces today, including

the pressure to be near an innovation hub, the need

to attract top talent with excellent amenities and

the need for flexibility to change workspaces as the

company grows.

Balance of lab versus office space.

The ratio of office-

to-lab space varies over time as a biotech compa-

ny grows. Young companies typically require less

square footage and most of that is taken up with

lab equipment and bench space. Contrast this allo-

cation with when the drug is approved, marketing

and sales teams move in and the office-to-lab ratio

may be 70/30. One way that small-company owners

have adjusted to meet their varied square footage

needs is to band together and occupy tenant build-

ings that accommo-

date multiple, simi-

lar-stage companies.

Attract and retain em-

ployees.

Building lo-

cation, facilities and

amenities matter to

biotech companies

because they mat-

ter to recruits. Class

A, fully outfitted lab

space can be a way

to attract top sci-

entists. In addition,

common amenities

include healthy eat-

eries, walking paths,

outdoor seating, fit-

ness areas, showers,

game rooms, coffee

break areas and bike

parking. Companies

in more suburban ar-

eas often offer more

amenities because of

the cheaper cost of

real estate, and be-

cause many feel they

Moving Forward

As biotechcompanies growtheirneed for space increas-

es and their mix of lab and office space needs changes,

as well. There is a high demand for lab space early in

the company lifecycle, then much less over time.

A spine-based furniture system that can be rearranged in multiple ways provides a

foundation that, as needs change, can mix and match parts without having to rebuy

or rebuild.

Jenny West,

LEED AP ID+C

Architecture

and Design

Manager,

Knoll