Laboratory design mistakes can lead to costly issues in workflow, safety, and compliance, yet they’re often overlooked, even by experienced professionals.
Designing a laboratory is more than selecting furniture and equipment. It’s about creating a modern, high-performing, safe, and flexible spaces that foster scientific discovery and emerging research trends. However, even experienced people in the industry from planners and architects to researchers and general contractors can overlook critical elements in their respective roles, that can lead to costly errors in functionality, workflow, and compliance.
In our blog, we’ll break down the most common mistakes in laboratory design related to furniture and functionality and how to avoid them.
1. Ignoring Workflow Optimization
One of the most common pitfalls in lab design is failing to lead with workflow in mind. Not understanding a lab’s workflow from the start, will cost you more in the end. Consequentially, an efficient laboratory layout should mirror the logical progression of processes, experiments, etc. Thus, minimizing backtracking and unnecessary movement. Poorly placed furniture can interrupt this flow, reduce productivity, and increase occurrences of avoidable accidents.
- According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), laboratory ergonomics and space planning directly influence worker safety and operational efficiency [CDC, 2020].
The Solution: Outline every lab function—from sample intake to analysis and disposal—before placing furniture. Use modular cabinets and mobile lab workstations to adapt as needs evolve.
2. Overlooking Flexibility for Future Growth
Laboratory design mistakes often stem from failing to plan for change. Laboratories are advanced environments where research priorities shift, teams change, and new equipment is introduced or dubbed obsolete. Unfortunately, many labs are designed too constricted or designed with an end-all, be-all layout. Thus making changes becomes expensive or cumbersome.
The Solution: Choose flexible lab furniture systems with easy reconfiguration capabilities without significant downtime. Height-adjustable lab tables, mobile cabinets, and wall-mount modular shelves can extend the life of your lab investment. Additionally, at OnePointe Solutions we offer our Flex Lab Systems which are lab tables with quick connect hook ups for power & data and services to reduce time in getting your lab up an running.
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) emphasizes the importance of “future-proofing” laboratory environments to support evolving research needs [NIH Design Requirements Manual, 2023].
3. Underestimating Storage Needs
Lack of or poorly located storage is a common issue that leads to cluttered workstations, benches and reduced workspace efficiency. In some scenarios, hazardous materials and chemical’s are even stored unsafely due to lack of proper lab casework storage.
The Solution: Perform an inventory of materials and equipment. Incorporate chemical-resistant cabinetry, wall-mounted shelving, and under-bench storage to keep essentials close, organized and accessible.
4. Neglecting Utility Access and Integration
Laboratory design mistakes frequently occur when utility planning isn’t top of mind. Furniture layout must align and have easy access to electrical outlets, gas lines, plumbing, and data ports. Improper coordination with these services can produce expensive retrofits and workflow disruption for researchers.
The Solution: Collaborate with MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) engineers early in the design process. Ensure utilities alignment with workstation needs and integrate seamlessly into casework or service panels.
5. Choosing the Wrong Furniture Materials
Selecting furniture based solely on cost or appearance often leads to performance issues. Though appearance is great, functionality and protection to the lab and personnel should be more important. For example, having wood or plastic laminate in a wet lab or a solid surface or quartz in a hazardous materials lab can quickly degrade your workspace.
The Solution: Choose materials to match lab types: or example:
- Stainless steel for sterile spaces or biosafety or cleanrooms
- Epoxy resin for chemical-heavy labs
- Phenolic resin for cost-effective, moisture and scratch resistant surfaces
Material compatibility with the lab’s purpose is critical for both longevity and safety [SEFA Guidelines, 2021].
6. Failing to Account for Human-Centric Design
You may think that labs are built for experiences and research but they actually built for people. If the lab space is uncomfortable, poorly lit, or ergonomically inefficient, employee satisfaction and retention will deteriorate.
The Solution: Have ergonomic seating, anti-fatigue mats, and proper lighting, natural and artificial in the lab. Ensure that workstations accommodate both seated and standing tasks.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes that ergonomic improvements can reduce musculoskeletal disorders and increase productivity [OSHA Laboratory Safety Guide, 2022].
7. Inadequate Planning for Cleanability and Safety
Laboratory types like cleanrooms and biomedical facilities require surfaces and furniture that are easy to sanitize. Overhanging hardware, porous materials like quartz and granite, or hard-to-reach spaces create contamination risks.
The Solution: Choose non-porous surfaces with radius corners and flush-mounted fixtures. Stainless steel casework and surfaces along with epoxy resin lab countertops are great for sterile environments or heavy demanding or chemical spaces. In biosafety labs, select casework compliant with NSF/ANSI 49 and BSL-2/3 standards.
Design with Intention, Deliver with Precision
Every laboratory project is an opportunity to blend scientific purpose with functional design. By prioritizing workflow, valuing flexibility, and carefully selecting appropriate materials, you can create lab spaces that perform just as well in five years as it does on day one and avoid these lab design mistakes all in one.
Whether you’re planning a new lab or renovating an existing one, start with a clear understanding of your team’s needs, regulatory requirements, and growth plans. At OnePointe Solutions, we specialize in building turnkey lab environments with high-performance furniture tailored to your exact specifications. Give us a call today to get started!