Dear Linda, 

Due to rapid growth in my organization’s business and staff, we are planning to expand from a 3,000-square-foot lab space into a new 10,000-square-foot facility. We have assembled a team, including a design consultant, construction manager, building operations staff, and myself as lab manager, to oversee the project. We have also found the desired location for the expanded lab facility. However, the process already feels a bit overwhelming, and I am concerned about balancing my time. Any advice? 

Thanks,
 Paul

Dear Paul,

While it can be a daunting task, expanding your laboratory space allows you to better serve your team and ensures research goals are being met. You’ve already made good progress by assembling a team of experts and finding a new location. By acquiring design and construction advisors early, any municipal, state, or federal environmental compliance items can be identified. I recommend you get input from some of your head scientists early in the design phase to avoid any retrofitting needs down the road. Schedule regular meetings with your team until substantial completion is reached so that everyone
remains up-to-date and informed throughout the process, which will allow you and everyone onboard to focus on their day-to-day tasks more efficiently.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Linda

For more info: www.labmanager.com/lab-expansion 

Have a question for Linda? Email her at LINDA@labmanager.com