How to choose a laboratory design consultant in India
What to compare, what to ask, and how design-only, design-build and turnkey models differ, from a practice that has been on the receiving end of every kind of tender.
The models
Design-only, design-build and turnkey are not the same purchase
Design-only consultant
An independent architect specifies on performance and has nothing to sell. You tender construction and equipment separately and keep price competition. This is Arena’s model.
Design-build contractor
One party designs and builds. Fewer interfaces, but the design is written by the party who profits from the build, which limits independent scrutiny.
Turnkey furniture supplier
Design offered alongside fume hoods and casework, sometimes free. Convenient, but the layout tends to follow the catalogue rather than the science.
The questions
Six questions worth asking any lab design consultant
Do you sell any of the products you specify?
This single question separates independent design judgement from a sales process. Ask for the answer in writing.
Who designs the office and write-up areas?
If the answer is a different firm, you are buying two scopes and an interface. Ask who coordinates services across that boundary and who is accountable when they clash. Arena designs the office and workplace alongside the lab.
Which standards will this design be developed against?
You want specific answers: NABL, ISO/IEC 17025, GLP, ISO 14644, ASHRAE guidance. Vagueness here surfaces at audit. See the full list of standards Arena designs to.
Can I see comparable projects by sector, size and starting point?
A fit-out in an existing shell is a different problem from a ground-up building. Ask for work that matches your situation, not only your industry.
What happens after the drawings are issued?
Shop drawing review, site inspections against design intent, snag list, completion certification and as-built verification are where design quality is preserved or lost.
Who will actually work on this project?
Ask which people, with what laboratory experience, and how often the principal is involved.
Thirty minutes with a lab design specialist is usually worth more than another article.