Retrofit challenge for Life Sciences

How can you align life sciences developments with net zero objectives?

This was a key part of the debate for the ‘Retrofit challenge for Life Sciences’ panel I chaired at FOOTPRINT+, featuring speakers Dave Wakelin, Director of Sustainability, Gleeds; Simon Hepher-Davies, Asset Manager, British Land; Alex Wraight, Allies and Morrison; and Ivan Jovanovic, Technical Director, Atelier Ten.

Here’s a snapshot of what we discussed:

Life sciences is a growing market with huge potential. But life sciences buildings are more carbon intensive, so key sustainability challenges must be worked through.

For retrofit projects, reducing embodied and operational carbon is even more complex because you are working within a set of constraints. The business case is also tougher, as fitting out for life sciences costs 3-4 times more than office floors. But lots of late 90s and early noughties buildings do readily convert; they have lots of power and floor space. The concrete based loads of older buildings also have lots of benefits.

Flexibility is key to resilience in this sector. It’s critical to be clear who the customer is. You need to understand what they want from the space, how it will change over time – be used and reused – for example from vaccine research to data processing.

You also need tenant engagement on the operational journey. How can tenants drive down energy? For larger occupiers with Net Zero Carbon targets this will be easier, but for start-ups you need to help them understand why reducing operational energy should be a priority and then how they can achieve it. For example, do they really need 24/7 power for lights and ventilation – or can this be concentrated.

Life sciences needs its own targets – particularly for operational carbon. Labs are big users of energy, varying in their demands, so the sector requires new standards to aim for. Targets for building fabric don’t stray too far from commercial offices, but life sciences require high levels of single use plastic – and other materials. We need to strike a balance between reducing carbon emissions and recognising the work being done by the sector – progressing scientific breakthroughs. The Government has a role to play here, recognising that embodied and operational carbon levels for life sciences can’t be compared directly to offices.

The UK life sciences market is growing, and this presents a great opportunity. Despite tough competition from new buildings retrofit should play an important role. Designing to very high specifications and prioritising flexibility will be key – and if projects are to succeed you need to build and believe it will work.

By prioritising sustainability we can support growth, but also enable the UK to be a market leader in life sciences sustainability standards and best practices.

If you’d like to find out more reducing embodied and operational carbon in your life sciences development plans, say hello@verteltd.com.