From Startup to Scale-Up: How Flexible Labs Keep Science Moving

Starting a life sciences company often means building for a future you can’t yet see. Hiring plans shift, research pipelines expand and equipment requirements multiply faster than expected. What is predictable is the need for more – more people, more tools, more space. Flexible lab layouts allow companies to reconfigure as they go, ensuring downtime is kept to a minimum and progress isn’t slowed.

Life sciences firms have varying needs depending on where they are in their lifecycle. For example, the FDA's five phases of drug development – discovery and development, preclinical research, clinical research, drug review and post-market drug safety monitoring – could see a startup grow approximately 30-50% between the preclinical and clinical research phases, and even double in size by the time they reach FDA review, per the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes. Equipment is another factor that drives demand for lab space. According to a “Lab of the Future” survey commissioned by MachineQ, 37% of the surveyed U.S.-based laboratory professionals plan to increase spending on lab equipment over the next two years.

Many lab components are purpose-built for adaptability, helping teams reconfigure their space quickly as research priorities evolve. Here are some of the most effective flexible design elements – all present at FORUM – that allow life sciences spaces to adapt to whatever comes next.

Reconfigurable Utilities. Because life science companies require more intense utility infrastructure than standard office tenants, electricity, water, gas, data and other connections are typically routed overhead, or via service panels rather than fixed into walls. This enables labs to add or relocate equipment without significant buildouts. In addition, plug-and-play infrastructure such as IT ports and utility hookups that support quick connection/disconnection of devices prevent labs from being bottlenecked by limited access points.

Adaptable HVAC and Ventilation Systems. Modern labs must maintain strict temperature and humidity to protect not only biological samples but also sensitive equipment. Additionally, highly advanced filtration systems can ensure cleanroom conditions and help meet stringent regulatory standards. Over-engineered mechanical systems designed with zoning or scalable capacity ensure the space is ready to use regardless of the lab user’s needs.

Modular Benches. Typically designed in standardized units, modular benches can easily be reconfigured to accommodate changes in personnel or processes. These allow lab users to pivot from one project setup to another without costly renovations, enabling faster adaptation to new research demands. Similarly, movable casework such as storage cabinets and work surfaces on casters or adjustable bases allow for better space optimization as teams grow or shift focus.

Flexible labs provide numerous benefits beyond scalability. They encourage collaboration and cross-discipline work, improve operational efficiency and even help attract and retain talent as employees value modern, adaptable workplaces that can grow with their careers.

In a field defined by rapid discovery, life sciences startups can’t afford to be held back by rigid infrastructure. Flexible lab layouts, like those at FORUM, give firms the confidence to navigate changing staffing levels and equipment needs without stressing over future space requirements.

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