From Blueprint to Breakthrough: Leading in Laboratory Construction
We sat down with Cameron Easdale, Head of Delivery at Connected, to discuss the unique challenges and innovations in laboratory construction. With extensive experience delivering complex life science facilities, Cam shares valuable insights on quality control, leadership approaches, and the future of specialised construction.
Q: What's your approach to maintaining quality control across specialised teams?
“Quality isn't negotiable when you're building environments where scientific precision is measured in microns," explains Easdale. His approach integrates digital platforms with rigorous human oversight. "We've created a digital ecosystem with Procore, OpenSpace, and Hammertech at its core—giving everyone from lab designers to contractors access to the same critical information in real time. This single source of truth eliminates the communication gaps that typically compromise quality.” The human element remains equally crucial. "Daily touchpoints with external consultants and weekly deep dives keep everyone aligned. We've found that early subcontractor engagement combined with regular expert peer reviews creates a quality-focused feedback loop that catches potential issues before they materialise."
Q: How does leading laboratory projects differ from other commercial construction?
"Laboratory construction flips traditional priorities. In commercial projects, aesthetics often drives decisions. In labs, function dictates form." This fundamental difference shapes every aspect of project management. "We obsess over compliance and regulatory requirements from day one, knowing that future accreditation depends on decisions made in the earliest design phases."
The technical complexity also requires a different mindset. "We're simultaneously designing scientific workflows and architectural spaces. Every decision is made through both realms, affecting how scientists work and how systems perform." Perhaps most distinctively, laboratory projects demand future-proofing. "We're not just building for current needs but designing adaptability into every system, anticipating how scientific requirements might evolve and ensuring the infrastructure can accommodate tomorrow's breakthroughs."
Q: What's the biggest challenge in balancing speed with precision?
"Laboratory construction presents a fascinating paradox; the environments demanding the highest precision are often needed with the greatest urgency." The solution lies in stakeholder orchestration. "Success depends on getting the right information from the right people at precisely the right moment. We've developed a stakeholder matrix that maps critical decision points against project timelines, identifying exactly when specific expertise must be engaged." This orchestration requires both technical fluency and relationship management. "We serve as translators between scientists, engineers, and builders, ensuring that technical requirements aren't lost in translation and that everyone understands how their decisions impact the overall timeline."
Q: How are sustainability and technical performance intersecting in laboratory construction?
Easdale offers a thoughtful perspective on this emerging priority. "Historically, performance trumped sustainability in laboratory environments, getting facilities operational was the singular focus. That pattern is rapidly evolving." Today's projects represent an inflection point where these priorities increasingly converge. "We're seeing sustainable materials integration, advanced MEP systems with environmental monitoring capabilities, and solar infrastructure becoming standard rather than exceptional in major facilities."
The most promising developments combine efficiency with performance. "Newer laboratory equipment often delivers both better scientific results and improved energy efficiency. Smart building systems optimise resource usage based on actual laboratory activity patterns."
The integration of these priorities requires technical innovation. "Balancing electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic services to maintain critical operations while reducing carbon footprint is becoming an engineering art form. The most successful projects achieve both without compromise, using sustainable specifications that maintain or even enhance system performance." “This represents the future of laboratory construction," Easdale concludes. "Facilities that are simultaneously more capable scientifically and more responsible environmentally."