Confidential Biotechnology Research Company

Details

Location:

Redwood City, CA

San Diego, CA

Architect

HOK Architects

Photography:

Jason O’Rear Architectural Photography

Category:

Science + Technology

Description

This confidential biotechnology research company’s is pioneering groundbreaking therapies aimed at halting or reversing the aging process, with the ultimate goal of extending human lifespan and health.

Redwood City, CA

AlfaTech provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, process, and fire protection engineering design services through a design-assist approach for the conversion of two office buildings totaling 100,000 SF into lab and office spaces. These labs primarily support biological research, with some chemistry labs and a vivarium located in one of the buildings. The project also includes additional office and meeting spaces, maintaining a 50/50 lab-to-office ratio.

San Diego, CA

AlfaTech provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, process and fire protection engineering design-assist services for tenant improvements across multiple buildings, including Building 4 (home to the vivarium) and the central plant. This project covers 200,000 SF, with a mix of chemistry and biology labs, again maintaining a 50/50 lab-to-office ratio for most of the buildings. A key upgrade to the central plant included the integration of a 1,200-ton chiller, enhancing the facility’s capacity to maintain precise environmental conditions critical to research in cellular rejuvenation and stress resistance. This campus plays a vital role in the company's mission to develop groundbreaking medical applications The San Diego campus is critical to the company's growth and research in cellular rejuvenation and stress resistance, which aims to translate into practical medical applications.

Highlights

• Technologies Used

  • Advanced HVAC zoning and environmental controls for vivariums and lab suites

  • Process utility systems including CDA, vacuum, CO₂, and specialty gases

  • Power distribution systems for lab-critical equipment and emergency resilience

  • Low-voltage infrastructure for AV, security, Wi-Fi, and structured cabling

  • Central plant upgrade with 1,200-ton chiller (San Diego) for scalable cooling

  • Smart lighting systems and controls for energy optimization

• Project Outcomes

  • Seamless transformation of 300,000 SF of office buildings into leading-edge biotech research spaces

  • Balanced lab and office environments supporting collaboration and discovery

  • Expanded central plant capacity in San Diego to meet long-term R&D demands

  • Fully integrated vivarium design in both locations with strict isolation and control

  • Flexible lab configurations to accommodate future programmatic evolution

• Insights & Innovations

  • Modular and reconfigurable lab infrastructure to support fast-paced biotech development

  • Coordinated design-assist model ensured agile response to field conditions and scope changes

  • Integration of complex vivarium systems into retrofitted buildings

  • Chiller optimization and load-sharing strategies improved energy efficiency at the San Diego campus

  • Unified infrastructure planning between sites enabled consistency in operations and scalability

• Sustainable Design

  Both the Redwood City and San Diego campuses were designed with a strong commitment to sustainability and long-term operational efficiency, integrating advanced systems and strategies that reduce energy consumption, water use, and carbon impact.

  Adaptive Reuse of Existing Buildings
  The transformation of two existing office campuses totaling 300,000 SF avoided the environmental cost of demolition and new construction. This adaptive reuse significantly reduced embodied carbon, construction waste, and material consumption while breathing new life into older building stock.

  High-Efficiency HVAC Systems
  Each campus features high-performance mechanical systems with variable air volume (VAV) controls, demand-controlled ventilation, and energy recovery systems to reduce conditioning loads. Air handling units were designed with multiple fan arrays and filtration systems to maintain lab-grade air quality at lower energy costs.

  Chiller Plant Optimization (San Diego)
  A 1,200-ton chiller was added to the San Diego central plant, designed for high part-load efficiency using variable speed drives and staged sequencing. This not only increased capacity but also improved operational performance and energy usage during non-peak times.

  Low-Energy Lighting Design
  LED lighting was specified throughout both campuses with integrated daylight harvesting and occupancy sensing systems. Smart lighting controls adapt to time-of-day and space utilization to minimize unnecessary energy use while preserving occupant comfort.

  Lab Systems Efficiency
  Fume hoods and lab exhaust systems were specified with low-flow configurations and sash sensors to optimize ventilation without compromising safety. Mechanical systems were zoned and balanced specifically to support lab usage patterns, minimizing over-conditioning and improving thermal performance.

  Water Use Reduction
  Plumbing systems include low-flow fixtures and sensor-activated fittings to reduce water consumption. In San Diego, the plant was also designed for future graywater reuse infrastructure.

  Infrastructure for Future Sustainability Goals
  The campuses were designed with capacity and pathways for future renewable energy integration, such as on-site solar PV and battery storage systems. Mechanical and electrical infrastructure was strategically laid out to support future electrification of building systems, aligning with California’s evolving energy code and carbon neutrality goals.

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