The next generation of knowledge precincts will blend flexible physical space, digital integration, and AI to drive collaboration and innovation—shifting from static offices to dynamic, shared environments that adapt in real time.

Cameron Easdale on Lab Builds:
"Quality, speed, and sustainability—no compromises. We build for science and the future."

A global shift is transforming underused office buildings into state-of-the-art laboratories, driven by booming life sciences demand, remote work, and sustainability goals. The UK leads with streamlined planning reforms, the US showcases scale, and Europe builds momentum. Australia shows strong potential but faces regulatory hurdles. Success hinges on location, technical viability, and regulatory navigation. As the sector grows, reform and innovation will be key to unlocking global opportunities.

At Connected, we bring construction expertise in from the very start—reducing risk, increasing certainty, and delivering smarter outcomes. Our integrated approach ensures early identification of constraints, informed decision-making, and spaces designed to meet real operational needs.

Project Manager Vivian Cogliandro shares how she’s adapting to the rapid pace of change in life sciences - shifting from traditional delivery models to agile, client-focused approaches. In this conversation, Viv discusses the metrics that really matter, the technologies reshaping project delivery, and why long-term client relationships are key to lasting success.

Australia’s booming life sciences sector, paired with record-low office occupancy and industrial space shortages, has created a unique opportunity: converting vacant office buildings into high-performance labs. While challenges like infrastructure upgrades and fitout costs remain, early contractor involvement, expert planning, and government support are making adaptive reuse both viable and necessary for sustainable urban development.

The rise of "Super Labs" is reshaping Australia's life sciences landscape, offering cost efficiencies, streamlined operations, and enhanced collaboration. By consolidating facilities, organisations reduce redundancies and optimise resources, but this shift also brings challenges - high upfront costs, operational complexity, and potential disruptions. Successful strategies balance centralisation with resilience, ensuring flexibility in a rapidly evolving industry.

US tariffs on Chinese, Canadian, and Mexican imports are reshaping global supply chains, pushing pharmaceutical and MedTech companies to seek reliable, tariff-free alternatives. With a strong regulatory framework, world-class research, and strategic trade access, Australia is poised to become more than just a substitute—it can be a key innovation partner.

By investing in advanced manufacturing and strengthening industry-research ties, Australia can secure its place as a central hub in the evolving global supply chain. The opportunity is now.

The BVAQ laboratory in West Melbourne is nearing completion, with specialised food testing elements coming together seamlessly. Key milestones include advanced environmental controls, custom insulated panelling, and precision-designed workspaces.

Construction Manager Simon Bugg highlighted the value of early contractor involvement in streamlining the process: "Take the time it takes, and ultimately, it takes less time."

With final touches underway, this facility will soon strengthen Australia’s food safety infrastructure.

With Australia’s life sciences sector growing 43% since 2019, companies face a key decision: build new or repurpose existing sites?

Greenfield sites offer full customisation and long-term efficiency but require higher investment and longer timelines. Brownfield conversions enable faster market entry and lower costs but may face technical challenges.

The right choice depends on priorities—precision and scalability or speed and flexibility

Align investments with strategic goals, balancing both tangible returns and long-term benefits like innovation and brand value. Set clear KPIs, use conservative assumptions, and benchmark against industry standards to ensure realistic projections.

Factor in risks with sensitivity analysis, involve cross-functional teams for broader insights, and consider tax implications and opportunity costs. Finally, continuously review and adjust ROI assessments to stay aligned with evolving market conditions.

Before approval, ROI is everything—scrutinised, calculated, and justified. But during execution, that focus often fades, leaving project teams making decisions without clear financial alignment. The result? Cost overruns, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities.

To fix this, ROI must be a shared responsibility. Success isn’t just staying on budget—it’s about long-term performance. Smart execution means defining value beyond costs, tracking ROI post-completion, and engaging experts early.

At Connected, we ensure ROI drives every stage—not just the approval.

Australia is on the cusp of a healthcare revolution, driven by four key pillars: genomics, stem cell therapies, digital health, and robotics & remote sensing. These advancements will usher in the era of Precision Health as a Service (PHAAS), offering personalised treatments and better health outcomes.

Ellie’s story illustrates this future—her life was saved through genomic sequencing and precision medicine, highlighting how innovation, policy, and research come together to transform care. With increasing investment in healthcare and cutting-edge research, Australia is well-positioned to lead globally, improving lives while driving economic growth.

Lean processes, originating from the Japanese manufacturing industry, are designed to maximise customer value while minimising waste. Simply put, lean means creating more value for clients with fewer resources. But how does this concept apply to all businesses?

A 'technical innovator' is someone who embodies the spirit of progress through technology. They are individuals or teams who apply their knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills to develop new technologies or significantly improve existing ones

Have you ever started a project and wondered how am I going to deliver this within the nominated timeframe? You have done the calculations, and everything would have to run perfectly to even come close to delivering the client their new workspace in time.

Technical project delivery can be a complex and challenging process, and it is not uncommon for there to be oversights or mistakes along the way.

Here are some common CEO oversights to avoid when building a large technical space.

Finding the right project manager partner for a large and complex laboratory project in Australia is essential to the success of the project. A skilled and experienced project manager can help ensure that the project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and safety.

It’s not uncommon for organisations to focus on maximising return on investment (ROI) when it comes to designing and building new laboratory or technical facilities. In recent years, a growing number of organisations have been turning to a design approach known as “inside-out” design to better achieve this goal.