BASF, a laboratory and office built to one finishing concept.
900 sqm for a world-class chemicals company - laboratory space with chemical-resistant finishes and an office wing with an international furniture package under one contract.
Two very different spaces, one standard of execution.
The BASF Tashkent office combines a regional representative function with an applied laboratory. The brief was to build a professional working environment for administrative staff and carry out specialised laboratory fit-out that meets safety norms for handling chemicals.
The laboratory brief called for chemical resistant flooring, acid resistant worktops, supply and exhaust ventilation with fume hoods and separate drainage systems.
Air pressure zoning as the basis of the layout.
Before starting the fit-out, we worked with BASF's safety engineer to set the boundary between the laboratory and office blocks along an air pressure contour. The laboratory perimeter runs under negative pressure, which keeps reagent vapours out of the working zone.
The transition zone is fitted with an airlock vestibule. Every material touching the laboratory zones went through separate sign off against BASF's specification.
320 sqm of laboratory and a full office wing.
The laboratory wing includes four fume hoods, chemical resistant epoxy flooring, acid resistant stainless steel and ceramic worktops, and separate drainage systems sorted by reagent type. The ventilation was installed by a specialist subcontractor experienced with laboratory buildings.
The office wing is finished in a light neutral palette, with height adjustable Haworth furniture, acoustic partitions and a soft seating break out area. All laboratory equipment was supplied under the same single contract.
16 weeks. Both wings signed off without remarks.
The laboratory wing passed inspection with the client's independent technical consultant present, with no remarks on material specifications or engineering systems. The office wing was handed over at the same time.
Sourcing laboratory equipment directly from manufacturers kept the schedule on track without swapping items or compromising on technical specifications.
Laboratory fit-out is a different level of coordination between architecture, engineering and safety standards, where resolving all three as one leaves the finished space with no visible line between them.
Specialised facilities - laboratories and technical spaces.
A guide to fitting out laboratories and technical spaces covers safety norms, choosing finishes, ventilation and working with specialist subcontractors.
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