The Biggest Challenges in Pharma Fit-Outs, And How To Solve Them

Pharmaceutical facilities demand uncompromising precision, not just in their operations but in how they are built, retrofitted, and upgraded. A single misstep in construction can lead to compliance risks, production downtime, or costly delays.

At Built Interiors, we understand that pharma fit-outs aren’t just about construction, they’re about delivering streamlined, efficient projects without disrupting critical operations. Through meticulous planning, advanced technology, and specialist execution, we ensure pharmaceutical plants, research hubs, and live operational environments can evolve without compromising compliance, sterility, or productivity.

1. Technology-Driven Precision: BIM & Point Cloud Surveying

Pharmaceutical facilities are highly complex, with intricate mechanical, electrical, and process systems that must function flawlessly. We use Point Cloud scanning and BIM coordination to model every element of a space before work begins.

This approach:

✔ Prevents clashes between services, reducing rework and costly errors.

✔ Optimises spatial planning, ensuring cleanroom integrity and regulatory compliance.

✔ Minimises material waste, enhancing sustainability and cost efficiency.

At 1 Le Pole Square, this BIM-first strategy ensured streamlined integration of ducting, lighting, and fan coil units in an environment with severe access constraints. The result? A flawless fit-out in a highly restricted environment, a principle even more critical in pharmaceutical settings.

2. Strategic Pre-Planning: Managing Live Environments

Live pharmaceutical environments operate under strict access, noise, and contamination controls. Any disruption can have serious consequences, from failed audits to lost production batches.

Success depends on:

✔ Phased Planning – Structuring work around production schedules to prevent costly shutdowns.

✔ Environmental Control – Managing noise, dust, and contamination risks in cleanrooms and laboratories.

✔ Real-Time Collaboration – Coordinating with facility managers, compliance teams, and end users.

At David Lloyd Leisure, Clonskeagh, we applied the same approach while delivering a 42,000 ft² phased refurbishment in a fully operational high-end leisure facility serving 7,000 members.

Key challenges included:

✔ Noise control – Ensuring works didn’t disrupt fitness classes or spa experiences.

✔ Phased scheduling – Keeping most facilities open while completing complex upgrades.

✔ Strict hygiene standards – Managing dust, debris, and access in areas like spa, pool, and changing rooms.

Through precise scheduling and phased execution, we successfully refreshed and repurposed key spaces including:

• Fitness Studios – Converting an indoor tennis court into four high-tech studio areas.

• Spa & Pool Area – Installing hydro & plunge pools, saunas, feature showers, and relaxation zones.

• Bar & Club Room – Upgrading kitchen, joinery, furniture, and access features.

• Changing Rooms – Stripping out and rebuilding M&E services, DAC toilets, and locker facilities.

These same phased execution principles apply directly to pharmaceutical live environments, ensuring zero disruption to critical operations.

3. Specialist Execution Under Restrictive Conditions

Pharmaceutical construction often requires highly specialised installations under extreme constraints. Consider:

✔ Installing air handling systems without crane access, requiring complex logistical planning.

✔ Transporting critical components manually due to access restrictions.

✔ Assembling and integrating mechanical systems on-site with absolute precision.

At 1 Le Pole Square, we manually transported and installed a large sprinkler system and an AHU unit across six flights of stairs, a logistical challenge which required an ability to adapt on the fly and do whatever it takes.

Similarly, at David Lloyd Leisure, our team navigated:

✔ Multiple concurrent fit-outs under a strict phased schedule.

✔ Precision procurement to ensure all materials were delivered, installed, and finished on time.

✔ Complex M&E integration across different facility types—fitness, spa, bar, and pool.

For pharmaceutical fit-outs, these same precision logistics are essential to avoid costly delays, compliance risks, and operational disruptions.

4. Sustainability and Compliance Go Hand-in-Hand

Pharmaceutical companies face increasing sustainability and ESG pressures. Built Interiors integrates:

✔ Sustainable waste management, with up to 90% of waste recycled.

✔ Energy-efficient building systems, reducing operational costs and carbon footprint.

✔ Precision procurement, ensuring materials are sourced responsibly and used efficiently.

At both 1 Le Pole Square and David Lloyd Leisure, we embedded sustainability from start to finish, reducing waste, optimising resource use, and incorporating energy-efficient solutions.

For pharma clients, this means:

✔ Achieving compliance with sustainability targets.

✔ Minimising waste and energy consumption in cleanrooms and laboratories.

✔ Ensuring long-term operational efficiency through smart design choices.

The Takeaway: Fit-Outs That Work, Without Disruption

Whether delivering a cutting-edge corporate workspace, a high-end leisure facility, or a mission-critical pharma plant, Built Interiors follows the same principles:

✔ Precision planning

✔ Advanced technology

✔ Flawless execution, on-time and on-budget

For pharmaceutical companies, the stakes are even higher. The right fit-out partner ensures projects run efficiently, comply with regulations, and avoid costly delays, all while keeping operations uninterrupted

Planning a pharmaceutical fit-out? Let’s talk.