NHS Scotland Regional Covid Laboratories
BMJ Architects supported the delivery of three NHS Scotland Regional Covid Testing Laboratories in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, helping increase national testing capacity during the pandemic.
Concept and Strategy
Time was the critical driver. The aim was to deliver three functional regional testing laboratories within the shortest possible timeframe and budget. Existing building stock was reviewed and selected based on technical suitability, allowing new regional testing hubs to increase capacity by 22,000 tests per day.
The works were carried out within live clinical environments, with construction and occupied areas kept separate at all times. Only the areas and systems requiring physical change to meet workflow and equipment requirements were altered, allowing the laboratories to be delivered efficiently while meeting current standards where practicable.
A Trusted Space for Modern Diagnostic Testing
BMJ used BIM and digital collaboration tools to coordinate the design and support rapid decision-making. Due to pandemic restrictions, briefing and user engagement took place through regular remote meetings, with live changes made to the BIM model and agreed layouts signed off at the end of each session.
Explore the Details
“The establishment of this hub has been an exceptional project in terms of the rapid recruitment and training of new laboratory staff, and the complexity of equipment involved, and I want to recognise the huge effort in delivering this within a very short timeframe.”
Joint Project Delivery Director at NHS Grampian
Designing for Safe and Efficient Laboratory Flow
Process flow mapping was essential to the smooth operation of each facility. Samples were received, barcoded and moved through a defined testing process using specialist equipment before results were produced. Each laboratory had to be adapted around the specific equipment procured for that site, while maintaining staff protection through fume cupboards and specialist safety systems.
