Natural History Museum Molecular and Quarantine Laboratories
We have designed specialist laboratory facilities for the Natural History Museum, including a new molecular laboratory housing unique and type specimens in freezer and liquid nitrogen storage, and quarantine and decontamination facilities on site and at an off site location.
Our Role
For the Molecular Collection Facility, our appointment began with specialist decommissioning of the existing laboratory. We designed full mechanical and electrical schemes for the fit out, balancing design with the required safety measures. The use of liquid nitrogen needed specialist normal and emergency ventilation regimes and careful commissioning before handover. We also carried out CDM designer’s risk assessments and reviewed equipment failure procedures and back up to N+1.
For the quarantine facilities, we designed full mechanical and electrical schemes for both labs and undertook the cost estimating role for the M&E services, integrating the on site labs with the building’s existing services.
The Outcome
The molecular facility has close temperature control with critical monitoring and alarms through a local BMS and remote SMS alerts.
The quarantine labs, completed to a world class standard and also hired to external specialists, include specialist ventilation, air control and extract, clean rooms, fume cupboards, drying cabinets for toxic collections, walk in freezers capable of -40°C, hot and cold thermal chambers and mobile arm extract systems.
Project Highlights
- Location: London
- Client: Natural History Museum
- Architect: Dannatt Johnson Architects
- Values: £0.5 million (Molecular Collection Facility) and £1.25 million (Quarantine Facilities)
- Liquid nitrogen storage with emergency ventilation
- N+1 resilience, BMS monitoring and SMS alarms
- Walk in freezers to -40°C, clean rooms and fume cupboards
- Services: Building Services, Cost & Commercial