Overview: Major Laboratory Addition For Global Life Sciences Organization
Exact Sciences, a global life sciences and cancer diagnostics organization, undertook project additions at its Nexus One building in Madison, Wisconsin. The project included its research and development center, as well as laboratory and warehouse additions.
FTI has been part of more than a dozen major projects with Exact Sciences. Our scope on this included lighting installation, lighting controls, laboratory power, mechanical power, one-line distribution, power monitoring/metering, fire alarm, access control, security cameras and emergency communication systems. We also provided additional redundancy for UPS systems by installing a static transfer switch.
Incorporating the manufacturing capabilities of our Excellerate® division, much of the fabrication was done off-site, including feeder conduit pre-bends, building information modeling (BIM) and panel builds. This improved productivity, which was critical while work took place on two buildings simultaneously. FTI’s systems experience and knowledge of Exact Sciences’ facilities enabled us to provide intricate security systems throughout the facilities, all integrated to the Security Operations Center (SOC), tying back to their main facility and into the entire campus.
For the safety of all team members and to support Exact Sciences’ critical functions, facility shutdowns were meticulously planned and managed for connecting new systems with existing facilities and systems. Meetings were held with Exact Sciences’ leadership to plan out system connections and cutovers. Critical operation needs, such as refrigerator/freezer temperature parameters, were maintained to ensure the highest quality testing was continued and no loss or contamination of specimens occurred.
Challenges: Supply Chain Issues & Delays
Lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic affected supply chains and required us to manage material needs differently. Based on our experience with Exact Sciences and knowledge of their facilities, we were able to confidently procure long-lead items before designs were finalized, enabling the project to be completed on schedule.
Project commissioning was also impacted by pandemic-related delays and delays with other trades. FTI developed a phased commissioning approach to enable system start-ups earlier in the project. Using existing distribution systems and temporary power systems to turn on equipment for early commissioning and start up, all trades stayed on schedule without compression and stacked trades at the project’s end.
Solutions: Electrical Metering & Energy Management Systems
Innovative technologies such as electrical metering and energy management systems were used during design and construction, as expansion of their current systems. The electrical metering system installed in previous projects was critical to the design when evaluating loads and sizing electrical equipment, reducing the project budget. The incorporation of manufacturing and automation equipment into their facilities improves processes and production output and supports consistency with patient testing.
