Good design can be seen in the details: Are utilities provided throughout the facility in a way that is organized, clean, and makes sense, or were the lights, ducts, piping, and sprinklers all installed individually in an unorganized way that casts shadows throughout the manufacturing floor and results in an unsightly jumble of tubes and chords? A great project occurs when a high level of attention is paid to these details, and all parties collaborate on the layout. An example of this type of coordination can be found in the "club sandwich" method utilized in the Harvey Performance Company’s facility, where ductwork and utilities like power and cooling lines are organized in neat horizontal layers creating distinctive pathways to provide for better utility coordination and easier access for maintenance, and eliminate shadows to provide a more positive impact on the human experience.
Attention to design details also applies to planning for the flow of the space. The obvious implications are in the movement of people, raw materials, and finished product. We need to be able to move efficiently around the manufacturing floor and from the storage space to the office or other amenity spaces. Just as important is the movement of machinery. If there is an array of tools, eventually one will need to be repaired or replaced, so the space must easily and efficiently facilitate that shift or removal.
While traditionally, manufacturing facilities are designed to prioritize production over exterior aesthetics, there is no reason why these buildings cannot be more than a plain gray warehouse when viewed from the outside. Even simple designs, bursts of color and texture, or distinctive entryway elements can transform a structure from bland and boxy to visually interesting, connecting the structure with its tenant’s brand without sacrificing production capabilities. Providing a functional and well-designed facility in a way that is appealing to the eye will help the tenant boost productivity and engagement and make a good first impression on both employees and guests. Good design also enhances a company’s ability to attract and retain the best in employees, engineers, and operators who want to work in a thoughtful, collaborative, and efficient environment.
The design of a manufacturing facility should not be solely focused on production when the space also can work as a business development tool. A well-designed facility puts the building to work for the marketing department by presenting the company brand right at the front door and showcasing the manufacturing process in an organized, sophisticated way for potential customers to see the company’s work first-hand.
Well-designed light industrial facilities are built to last. Redundancy in the facility’s systems should be considered at the outset to provide at least N+1 redundancy, meaning that the facility has a reserve utility or piece of equipment that can be turned on to account for system failure or maintenance. More sensitive systems or processes that cannot be allowed to shut down must be given higher levels of redundancy, sometimes providing a completely independent, mirrored system ready in case the first system goes down (commonly referred to as 2N redundancy).
