What the UK can learn about flex lab space from France and Europe

The life sciences industry has experienced remarkable growth in Europe over the past five years, driven in part by the Covid-19 pandemic and in part by increasing demand for innovative healthcare solutions. France has been at the forefront of this expansion, investing heavily in the sector in response to the demand for advanced solutions. The activity in the sector has centralised in Paris, which has become an established hub for new life sciences companies and a centre for innovation.

Core to France’s success is its strategic focus on flexible lab spaces. Unlike the UK, which has traditionally prioritised purpose-built laboratory facilities, France has embraced a more adaptable approach, one that recognises the dynamic nature of the industry and the requirement for buildings to accommodate evolving needs.

This flexible design philosophy is exemplified by initiatives like the €7.5bn Healthcare Innovation 2030 plan, launched by the French government to expedite the development of life sciences infrastructure. The plan encourages the creation of adaptable spaces that can seamlessly transition between various uses, ensuring that buildings remain relevant and sustainable over the long term.

This emphasis on flexibility hasn’t gone unnoticed by global life sciences companies. Oxford Properties, a Canadian real estate firm, has partnered with Novaxia to acquire the Biocitech life sciences campus in Paris, recognising the strategic value of flexible lab space in the French market.

While the UK also boasts a flourishing life sciences sector with a strong concentration of activity in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge, it can benefit from adopting France’s flexible design approach. The UK’s recent £520m funding commitment to the life sciences industry highlights the government’s recognition of the sector’s potential.

An established market across European cities, flexible office space is a model that is being replicated in the life sciences industry. It suits the unpredictability of the sector, as these flex spaces can be altered for specific purposes or revisited later down the line.

The high demand for lab space will inevitably even out in time, which is why being able to adapt to changing uses through design is increasingly important. The difference in designing for flex office or lab space is minimal, which benefits both the architect and the client, and as a result the end user. Often spaces that are taken up by life sciences occupiers will end up as office spaces, so designing to accommodate a variety of different uses is key.

When we were designing ‘The JED’ building in Switzerland (pictured), we didn’t know what the end purpose was going to be, so we designed for a speculative office space using our 2226 concept. It ended up being rented out as a co-working laboratory operator space. It was the flexible design that meant the tenant could come and fit out the space in a way that suited their needs.

An approach that allows for adaptability is imperative in such a fluctuating industry. Flexible design can help us to tackle the everchanging market, while also promoting the longevity of buildings and avoiding wasted materials and time in construction and fit-out. If we design general office space that can then be converted into laboratory space, with the occupier fitting out what is required for their specific functions, then we can stop buildings from becoming obsolete. This would not only positively fuel the UK life sciences sector, but also benefit the real estate industry as a whole.