$1.5 Million Project Delivers Highly Functional Lab and Support Space
One of the fastest growing pharmaceutical testing companies, DYNALABS, LLC, has nearly doubled the size of its St. Louis testing facility. St. Louis design-builder Artisan Building Co. completed the $1.5 million expansion, adding both wet and dry lab space along with office and support space. The project, which Artisan delivered on time, for less than half of the original cost estimates from other contractors, allows DYNALABS to continue to expand their testing services, something it couldn’t do with its limited space prior to the expansion.
DYNALABS is now planning additional renovations to meet future needs. “As a testament to our trust in Andy Barnes and Artisan as our general contractor, we are currently working on a second project relating to the renovation of our clean room area,” said Russell Odegard, chief operating officer and managing partner, DYNALABS. “This project is expected to begin sometime within the 4th quarter of this year.”
DYNALABS’ 33,500 square-foot facility is located at 2327 Chouteau Ave. Artisan completed the 15,500 square feet expansion to add second floor wet chemistry and analytical laboratories and an area for glassware washing and drying. Artisan also coordinated the installation of an elevator, a first floor sample management area for sample inspection, receipt, distribution and storage, as well as first and second floor office, lunch areas and conference space.
“We examined DynaLabs’ space needs, re-evaluated the original drawings and wherever we saw a wall that wasn’t needed, we eliminated it,” said Barnes, principal, Artisan Building. “That saved on electrical and mechanical infrastructure and also created more opportunities for collaboration, rather than isolating each lab behind walls.”
Artisan worked with its building team to design and install intense mechanical needs including three fume hoods and ventilation that circulates 100 percent outside air.
“From the moment we began working Artisan, we noticed a difference,” said Odegard, chief operating officer and managing partner, DYNALABS. “Artisan owner Andy Barnes made the process of planning our expansion efficient and systematic. His open book style of planning and implementation was very informative, and there were never any significant surprises. During implementation, we had weekly meetings for discussing current status of the project, and to resolve issues that presented themselves.”
Joining Artisan on the project were Liberty Electric, Inc., electrical; American Mechanical, mechanical; T.J. Wies Contracting, Inc., drywall.
Founded in St. Louis in 2004, Dynalabs is an analytical testing lab that tests pharmaceuticals (sterile and non-sterile dosage forms) for pharmacies (retail – industrial – hospital) and pharmaceutical drug companies in the United States, Canada and Australia. For more information, visit www.dynalabs.us.
Artisan Building Co. provides construction management and development management services to property owners and developers seeking professional expertise with historic adaptive reuse or redevelopment.