Ransom Naturals – Lab & Office Refurbishment

Contract Value:- £1,100,000.00
Completed:- January 2022
Location:- Hitchin, Hertfordshire

• • Full Design and Build, converting an industrial warehouse to Offices and Laboratories
  • New Mezzanine to half of the warehouse with a double height atrium
  • New Cladding to the main front Façade with new glazed curtain walling
  • Installation of 3-way fast action roller shutter airlock between labs and warehouse
  • Full controlled HVAC and Fume Cupboard systems
  • Installation of new special gas plant and equipment including N2 and CA generators

Iab were approached by Dust Architects in 2017 to discuss the and price the conversion of an empty warehouse to a new state of the art laboratory and office facility. After going through tender the process against a hand of other companies. The project was deemed too costly for the clients budget at the time.

A year or so past and we were approached by Dust Architects again. This time it was to work with them and Ransom’s to design a facility that was within budget. One of the main objectives was to make sure that the new design was able to be easily expanded in the future. After a few months and several revisions, we came up with a design that would provide them one third of the space converted to new labs and office. Leaving two thirds for development at a later date.

The project involved the conversion of an existing industrial warehouse, dividing into a series of working laboratories, offices, meeting rooms and front of house atrium. The project started by installing a of new Mezzanine structure to half of the warehouse with a double height atrium to the entrance area. From the area was split the into two phases. Phase 1 being the laboratories and Phase 2 being the offices.

The lab area included 3 labs, each for different parts of the business. These where Food and Beverages, Instrument and R&D. Each lab comprised of different layouts to suit the needs of that lab, with the instrument lab requiring custom furniture to accommodate the equipment. the Food and Beverages and Instrument laboratory required just one fume cupboard. Whereas the R&D lab required four fume cupboards, one of the four was a walk-in fume cupboard. A 3-way fast action roller shutter airlock entrance was created between the labs, Warehouse next door and an area at the back of the building. This area at the back of the warehouse has been left for future development.