Evan Gallagher, NAI Hunneman

In the Greater Boston lab market, companies that are looking for a new home or expanding rapidly are finding an extremely tight market. These companies prioritize the lab and the amenities they need for their work, which can mean looking at locations they may not have considered previously. Here are three factors tenants should consider within the four walls of lab space today:

1. Flow: The ability for separate stages to flow naturally from each step and enhance efficiency is important to the way life science companies operate and conduct experiments. Tenants look at the shape of the building as well as column spacing – columns that are spaced too closely together result in small, tight spaces that do not allow for much freedom for a lab build-out. Companies must consider a host of buildings in order to finding a space where they can achieve the flow objectives they are looking for.

2. Natural light: Offices with natural light have been shown to facilitate a positive work environment, which can make for a more enjoyable workplace. This lab feature is crucial to creating a vibrant work environment that makes the workplace enjoyable, and is especially important for companies looking to attract the best talent in the world.

3. Infrastructure: In today’s market, there are two types of buildings where we find lab space. One has centralized infrastructure, which is designed from the ground up and allows a facility to be really efficient – these buildings are also in higher demand, and are therefore more expensive. Another option is a facility that has been modified and converted into lab spaces, which generally has no centrally designed systems. Both options have pros and cons. Tenants tend to lean toward centrally designed buildings, but this means they are faced with fewer options and premium pricing.

In the life science industry we can help make sure our clients understand all of the considerations that go into finding the right lab space for them – especially for those companies that are relatively young or those that are experiencing accelerated growth. Talking through a building’s flow, how natural light can energize a space and a company’s future needs is part of how we serve our clients and find the space that is right for them.

Evan Gallagher is executive vice president & principal, NAI Hunneman, Boston.