The conclusion for me is that scale absolutely matters and it needs to be carefully and thoroughly considered.
It afforded us a far greater level of stakeholder engagement and buy-in than we would typically achieve for a one-off design (see below).This resulted in, for example, designs that were highly optimised in terms of layouts, space allocation, adjacencies and functional flows – which could then be deployed across the PETP programme and wider prison estate.
It creates further efficiencies.For example, the standard building types can be used across a range of sites.For each, the site-specific design activities can be focused on the placement of the buildings relative to each other, arranging orientation to minimise overlooking and overheating (for both the comfort of prisoners and to reduce energy use), maximise views of landscape, and so on.
It contributes to overall better design and allows designers to focus more of their efforts on solving the specific challenges relating to a particular site and context.Standardised solutions lend themselves to efficiencies in construction and the application of DfMA.
Operational benefits.
Standardised solutions facilitate efficient operation and maintenance, as well as aiding staff and prisoner wayfinding and navigation.. A developmental process, an evidence-based approach.The laboratory estate needs to be adaptable in order to be expanded, contracted, and/or repurposed without significant planning issues, cost, time and impact to ongoing operations.
The spaces within the estate need to allow for flexibility in the location of people, processes and equipment, with changes, wherever possible, carried out without the need for engineering and construction.Finding the right balance is a critical factor..
Almost universal among participants in the discussion, was a concern about the sheer amount of data now generated in laboratories.This is one of the key drivers for smart systems, as the level of data already outstretches the human capability to examine, analyse, and make-sense of it.. Smart systems can provide a mechanism to inform decision making, but the sheer quantity and flow rate of new data also create practical problems.