Schedule was key, with Novartis requiring delivery of the laboratories within a six-month time frame. The first phase of construction was completed in an unprecedented 25 weeks. The aggressive schedule required 500 tradesmen working 24 x 7 to achieve the build-out of more than 250,000 square feet of specialized laboratory, vivarium, and associated support and data spaces. The project set a new standard in fast-track scheduling and encompassed 260,000 square-feet of chemistry and biology laboratories, associated scientific support space, offices, libraries, and break areas.

Other central services include lab gas, compressed air, vacuum, nitrogen, CO2, and RODI distilled water.  The lab areas contained 8,200 lineal feet of lab bench all with solid epoxy counters. In order to increase the building infrastructure to feed the new interior, a completely new air handling unit farm was installed, supplying 450,000 cubic feet per minute of tempered air, 2,850 tons of new chilled water, a ganged-plenum strobic air exhaust system, and a new emergency generator set.  The non-lab areas were also exceptional. The break areas included a communicating grand stairway lined with granite. The theme in these areas was dictated by bamboo floors, radius glass partitions, flat screen televisions, and brushed custom stainless steel.