Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences: Inside Our Swift Dental Lab Fit-Out

Swift Dental are the UK’s largest family-owned dental laboratory, and when they planned a 38,000 sq ft expansion to house new production facilities, they asked us to lead the design and fit-out. The project brought together specialist clinical spaces and a workplace for a growing team under one roof.

Here’s what we learned along the way, and what it means for pharmaceutical and life sciences businesses planning lab fitouts of their own.

A Sector That’s Growing Fast

The UK’s bioscience and health technology sector is now made up of around 7,600 companies employing more than 300,000 people, according to the latest Office for Life Sciences figures. Some regions are moving faster than others, with North East turnover up 18% in a single year.

As these businesses expand, many need facilities that can house new technology whilst meeting strict compliance requirements, often on tight timelines. That’s why so many are looking at commercial lab refurbishment alongside new builds.

Inside the Swift Dental Project

Swift Dental hold a 98% quality score and support around 6,000 dentists, so precision sits at the centre of their reputation. Their new facility needed to house a Röders milling machine, the first in any UK laboratory, capable of tolerances you’d normally associate with luxury watchmaking.

To meet that brief, we mapped how each dental case moves through the building, from precision manufacturing through to final checks and despatch, and planned the zoning and ventilation of every area around that journey. Production spaces needed specialist ventilation and infection control, whilst staff areas were designed to reflect the pride the team takes in their work.

Bringing those two very different environments together in one coherent building was the defining challenge of the project. You can read more about how we approached it in our piece on why the right partner matters for a dental laboratory fit-out.

What Life Sciences Businesses Should Plan For

Whilst every lab is different, a few lessons from Swift Dental apply right across the sector.

At Swift Dental, mapping the journey of each case before drawing a single wall stopped bottlenecks from being built into the layout. The same approach works for any lab, as the movement of samples and staff should decide where each room sits.

Research and production needs also change over time, and equipment gets replaced. Planning services and data so they can adapt without major works will save you a costly refit a few years down the line.

Specialist staff in the life sciences sector are in high demand, so the spaces around the lab deserve as much attention as the lab itself. Thoughtful interior design in breakout and meeting areas plays a real part in holding on to good people.

Labs also use far more energy per square metre than a typical office, so sustainable design decisions made at the brief stage keep running costs down for years to come.

Quick FAQ on Lab Fit-Outs

What’s the difference between a lab fit-out and a lab refurbishment?

A lab fit-out usually starts from a shell and builds everything from scratch, whilst a lab refurbishment upgrades an existing facility. Refurbishment is often quicker, but it needs careful planning if the lab has to stay operational during the works.

Do I need specialist laboratory design consultants?

For controlled environments or regulated processes, specialist input is worth having. Laboratory design consultants make sure compliance and building services are planned together from the start rather than fixed later.

Can a science lab refurbishment happen whilst we keep working?

In most cases it can, using phased works and careful zoning, as long as the sequence is agreed early so critical processes stay protected throughout.

Partner with Chameleon on Your Lab Fit-Out

From specialist labs to the offices that sit alongside them, our design and build team takes the time to understand how your business works before we start on the building.

Get in touch with our design team to talk through your project.