A dedicated COVID-19 Laboratory has opened in London’s MedCity health and life sciences hub. 

Health Services Laboratories (HSL) contracted KB Architects todesign and deliver the surge laboratory to service the Government’s latest plans to expand COVID-19 testing facilities across the country. 

The team was appointed to provide both architectural and project management services, which enabled it to prioritise design packages in line with the procurement pressure and timeframes. 

The design team’s knowledge of the existing Halo building and the client’s requirements enabled it to commit to a fast-paced programme of 12 weeks from inception to handover. 

Daniel Frayne of HSL said: “Given the nature and the importance of the project we set the design team very-tight timescales for the design, delivery, and execution of this critical project to our business and the health of the nation.”

Located on the ninth floor of the Halo Building, in the heart of Medcity, the facility is now  fully operational to help process 10,000 tests per day.

The 5,000sq ft unit was developed by converting and transforming existing Cat B offices into CL1 and CL2 laboratory spaces. 

The concept design was to provide flexible clinical spaces benefitting from natural light, stimulating views, transparency between the spaces and high ceilings, while new specialist features installed include a pressurised PCR room with multiple real-time PCR diagnostic analysers, 22 new safety cabinets, and extension of four automated sample lifts to transfer couriered samples to the allocated laboratory level.