Main Campus – 5 Core Lab Automation

The Core Laboratory combines multiple Laboratory functions to provide core laboratory testing to support patient care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Located in the heart of CHOP’s Main building, and sandwiched between the Hospitals Primary Operating Room Floors, this lab processes over 1 million samples annually, and is a critical part of hospital operations. The renovation of the occupied lab was completed to facilitate the installation of new state-of-the-art automation instrumentation and provide future flexibility for the Lab’s operations. Working closely with the Lab Scientists, Specialists, and CHOP’s Facilities Project Management team, the renovation was completed in 7 phases over 2 years allowing the existing lab space to remain occupied and sample testing operations to continue. Each individual phase included a complete overhaul of the MEP systems, fume hoods, lab casework, powered mobile lab tables, and finishes. Building infrastructure upgrades including a new walk in cold room, exhaust fans, and electrical panels were completed for future flexibility and to accommodate the new automation instruments. The considerable coordination and preplanning efforts by all project stakeholders was critical to the success of each phase and the renovation as a whole. This project stands as a testament to our commitment to putting patient care above all else and minimizing the impacts construction places on adjacent occupied spaces.