More than two-thirds of U.S. households own at least one pet, and more than half own dogs. The American Pet Association estimates that Americans spent a record $99 billion on pet-related expenses in 2020, from food and toys to vet services. The animal care sector is big business that at least one AEC firm has been tapping into for a while.
CRB, headquartered in the heart of the so-called animal health corridor in Kansas City, Mo., has cultivated a specialty for working on biotech facilities that focus on the animal world. In that capacity, CRB has collaborated with a several other AEC firms, such as ESG and Power Construction on Fulton Labs, a life sciences campus in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood. The campus hosts 724,714 rentable sf of dedicated lab and office space with an additional 57,000 sf of top-tier amenity space including a community garden, wellness center and stunning rooftop lounge.
Eric Danielson, CRB’s Director of Business Development, says that growth in this industry sector is coming from several directions that include the post-COVID study of monoclonal antibodies in animals. He adds that there’s also a lot of interest in gene and cell therapies, especially for companion pets. And on the food side, manufacturers are exploring “fresher options” that consumers are demanding and are willing to spend more on. These include alternative protein food types and products that can be sold less expensively at retail.
Danielson says his company is seeing more manufacturers take a holistic approach to animal health by, for example, getting into food products with pharmaceutical elements embedded into the ingredients.
CRB provided design services for this new 96,000-sf animal health biological production facility used to manufacture aerobe bacterins and viral antigens.
MULTIPLE REGULATORY BODIES
Animal care is a highly regulated business that, in the U.S., is overseen by the Food & Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture. CRB has also worked for clients in Europe, South America, and Asia, each with its own rules and regs. So a big part of CRB’s job, says Danielson, is to make sure that its clients’ projects adhere to their markets’ regulatory requirements.
CRB relies mightily on reality capture, through BIM and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) to, in Danielson’s words, “provide a digital understanding of the design for the day-to-day user.” These tools also reduced the need for physical on-site visits during the coronavirus pandemic, and are getting clients’ projects up and running faster at a time when speed to market is a critical competitive component.
IPD PRACTITIONER
A CRB employee on-site during the construction phase of a ONEsolution project for a major global animal health company.
To that end, within the past year CRB has rolled out SlateXpace, a platformed modular solution, primarily for multimodal facilities, whose plug-and-play components can be deployed without needing to shut down other parts of the building. “It reduces down time,” says Danielson. (A short video that illustrates how this works can be viewed here.)
CRB is also a proponent of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) through its ONEsolution approach that brings together the company’s team of designers, engineers, and other experts to control quality, cost, and scheduling by focusing on lean project delivery based on core principles that optimize the client’s capital investment through improved execution, with shared risks and rewards.
Danielson—whose 20-plus years in the AEC space included stints with J.E. Dunn and as a municipal planner—says that his firm strives to avoid “falling into the trap of repeating the same production design standards. This limits innovation.” It is also always looking for ways to eliminate steps for a project to achieve regulatory compliance.
With regard to innovation and fresh thinking, a few weeks ago CRB elected four new members to its Board of Directors, three of whom are from outside the company, its first election of external members. "Together, their insights and fresh perspectives will challenge and strengthen us, resulting in continued high value for our clients and rewarding experiences for our employees," said Ryan Schroeder, CRB’s President.
The outside board members include Tim Hannan, Executive Vice President and CFO of New-Press & Gazette Company; Sandy Price, a retired Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Sprint; and Bob Uhler, a philanthropist and former Chairman of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock.
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Jan 29, 2018
The new Virginia Tech Biomedical Research Addition will include research facilities in five thematic areas
The project is a collaboration between Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech.
Healthcare Facilities | Jan 10, 2018
Healthcare market year in review for 2017
While we have not fully turned the corner on healthcare reform and in particular healthcare payment reform, 2017 confirmed trends of consumerism and the need for more proximate low-cost options.
Retail Centers | Jan 9, 2018
The addition of a medical practice is part of the cure for reviving a shopping mall in Scranton, Pa.
Delta Medix is one of several tenants that are changing the image of the Marketplace at Steamtown.
Healthcare Facilities | Jan 6, 2018
A new precision dental center embodies Columbia University’s latest direction for oral medicine education
The facility, which nests at “the core” of the university’s Medical Center, relies heavily on technology and big data.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 19, 2017
‘Healing Oasis’ will provide healthcare services to veterans in northern California
Hoefer Wysocki designed the $40 million facility.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 11, 2017
2018 predictions for healthcare facility design
From emergency departments to microhospitals, to the amenities in and locations of hospitals, the year ahead will see continued changes in how healthcare providers are designing and equipping their facilities.
Market Data | Dec 5, 2017
Top health systems engaged in $21 billion of U.S. construction projects
Largest active projects are by Sutter Health, New York Presbyterian, and Scripps Health.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 30, 2017
Scope it out
How to design and build what’s needed to meet organizational goals and strategies.
University Buildings | Nov 28, 2017
FXFOWLE and CO Architects collaborate on Columbia University School of Nursing building
The building has a ‘collaboration ribbon’ that runs throughout the building.
Sponsored | Windows and Doors | Nov 21, 2017
Daylighting promotes healing and wellness at the Florida Hospital for Women at Orlando Campus
Growing research demonstrates that patients recover faster and better from illness or surgery in settings that offer abundant daylight and views to the outdoors.