Arranta Bio, Microbiome Manufacturing Facility

About this project

When complete, the building will feature a 9,000sf R&D lab suite and a 6,000sf QC lab suite, with conference rooms, huddle rooms, and a large forum/kitchen. The facility’s maximum microbial fermentation capacity is 2 x 2000L, with a total of 13 cGMP suites, and is designed for growth. Process configurations can incorporate single-use equipment, and well-located utility panels and centralized vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) streamline changeover decontaminations.

Key attributes

• Converting warehouse into a state-of-the-art manufacturing space with capacity and flexibility to handle a broad range of drugs.
• Designed for full-process stages along with lyophilization and capsule filling.
• New process equipment and building utility equipment were installed along with new clean utility generation and single-use bioreactors, mixers, and purification skids.
• Equipment platform designed into existing tight footprint with very low clearance heights and tight clearances around equipment. The tight area on the mezzanine created challenges for placing equipment and utilities.
• Design to BSL-2+ standards to meet CDC guidelines for potentially spore-forming products.

Key achievements

• Compressed schedule with phased release of design packages (by priority) to hit critical milestones and meet occupancy targets. Early construction activities started during concept design phase with long lead items released for procurement and site works commencing. The design was completed in approximately 20 weeks, from project initiation to mechanical completion.
• Feasibility through mechanical completion in 15 months.
• Supporting novel processes with anaerobic fermentation using on-site nitrogen generator to create an oxygen-free environment.
• Design for flexibility and agility using the pre-existing structure.