Northwest Community Labs
Northwest Community Laboratories transforms a former suburban call center into a cutting-edge medical laboratory that balances technical rigor with human-centered design.
The project integrates robust engineering solutions, flexible infrastructure, and inviting interiors to support 24-hour operations and future innovation.
Previously located within Tacoma General Hospital, this MultiCare Health System–affiliated reference laboratory engaged Boulder Associates to design a new lab and office space within a Tukwila office park. The move was part of a larger strategy to grow testing capability and expand services across a wider swath of the Northwest region — making administration and warehouse space a crucial part of the final design.
The Design Process
A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to function and form
The design process was rooted in a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that prioritized both functional excellence and aesthetic innovation. Early on, the team addressed post-pandemic supply-chain challenges and resource constraints, ensuring expert input was integrated at every stage.
Drawing on lessons from other laboratories, the design incorporated open concepts, abundant natural light, and flexible infrastructure to support operational efficiency and future growth. Visual workflow diagrams were developed to communicate process changes, with input from both technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure clarity and alignment.
A projected three-fold growth in samples received required the team to think holistically about the laboratory and all of its supporting parts. The project converted previously manual testing processes to fully automated workflows — and the building's infrastructure had to be upgraded dramatically to keep pace.
Converting an office use to an equipment-intensive laboratory demanded substantial HVAC upgrades. A new transformer was installed to deliver increased emergency power and the scalability the client's growth required, and a new generator followed. To carry the weight of extensive new rooftop and laboratory equipment, both the roof and the floor slab required structural reinforcement.
Human-Centered
A workplace, not just a workspace
Understanding the client and building context — a 24/7 facility in a suburban office park — led the team to create fully realized amenity spaces for employees who wouldn't have access to the same local resources they were accustomed to in Tacoma.
Hospitality-inspired administration and break areas make up the non-lab spaces, mixing comfortable desking and offices with open, inviting conference rooms. The lab footprint is identical from floor to floor, with open office areas, conference rooms, and flexible gathering spaces surrounding the lab zones.
