Creating flexible, high-specification environments for the world’s leading scientists
Science is evolving faster than the buildings that house it. Today’s research facilities must be "multi-modal", capable of pivoting from chemistry to biology, or from dry computational research to wet-lab discovery. The challenge for R&D organisations is creating spaces that are safe and compliant (GLP/BSL) while remaining flexible enough to accommodate new technologies without a total facility refit.
These environments require a sophisticated balance: high-performance ventilation for chemical safety, precision temperature control for sensitive experiments, and vibration-isolated zones for advanced imaging. Furthermore, the modern R&D facility must foster collaboration between multidisciplinary teams while maintaining strict containment and security protocols.
Markets we serve
Equans Sci-Tech bridges the gap between scientific vision and engineered reality. We understand that in a laboratory, the environment is a critical tool for discovery.
We work with organisations across the R&D spectrum:
- Higher education and University research institutes.
- Science parks and multi-tenanted innovation centres.
- Private R&D divisions in the chemicals, energy, and tech sectors.
- Government-funded national research facilities.
Education and science
Equans Sci-Tech is your expert to define, design deliver or refurbish advanced R&D and education science environments.
Find the answers to your questions
Yes, "repurposing" is a core part of our expertise. We assess the building's structural capacity for vibration control and its ability to house the intensive HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems required for laboratory safety. We then engineer bespoke solutions to bring these legacy assets up to modern CL2 or CL3 standards.
Our designs are strictly compliant with UK health and safety legislation, including COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and HSE guidelines for biological containment. We have deep experience in delivering laboratories to GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) standards and can provide the necessary documentation for full facility validation.
These instruments require "mission-critical" environmental stability. We conduct site-wide vibration and electromagnetic interference (EMI) surveys before design begins. We then implement active and passive isolation systems, alongside precision MEP controls, to maintain the incredibly tight temperature and acoustic tolerances these machines require to produce accurate data.
Laboratories are traditionally energy-intensive due to high air-change requirements. We mitigate this by integrating smart building controls, such as "demand-controlled ventilation" (DCV), which adjusts airflow based on actual fume cupboard usage. We also implement high-efficiency heat recovery systems to ensure that your sustainability targets (Net Zero) are met without compromising safety.
