Project Brief

The Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis is a fully renovated analytical laboratory supporting pre-clinical drug development, industrial drug development, and compounding pharmacy research. Directed by Dr. Kenneth Morris, University Professor at Long Island University Brooklyn, the Institute focuses on the physical and chemical characterization of APIs, excipients, and dosage forms (including solid-state properties, chemical stability, degradant identification, and processing- and storage-related changes) and is equipped with advanced instrumentation spanning LC-MS, HPLC, and PXRD systems, DSC/TGA thermal analysis, particle sizing and microscopy, and dissolution testing in support of method development, OOS investigations, and USP compendial testing.

To deliver this facility, KeRi designed the replacement of the existing HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems to achieve cGMP compliance and classification per FDA guidelines, along with a new educational and research laboratory dedicated to tablet manufacturing equipped with a tabletop blender, lab-grade tablet press, and other manufacturing equipment. Completed in three phases, the project included a comprehensive upgrade of the exhaust system, featuring a high-plume, mixed-airflow exhaust fan to ensure safe dispersion of laboratory exhaust. Funded by Natoli, a leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical equipment, the space was previously served by an existing house system, which was disconnected and replaced with a dedicated HVAC unit and associated dedicated exhaust system serving the laboratory exclusively.

MEP Engineering Scope

What We Engineered

cGMP-compliant systems for the Lachman Institute analytical lab and a new tablet-manufacturing research laboratory:

• Replacement of existing HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems to achieve cGMP compliance and classification per FDA guidelines
• New educational and research laboratory dedicated to tablet manufacturing, equipped for a tabletop blender, lab-grade tablet press, and other manufacturing equipment
• Comprehensive exhaust-system upgrade with a high-plume, mixed-airflow exhaust fan for safe dispersion of laboratory exhaust
• Dedicated HVAC unit and dedicated exhaust system serving the laboratory exclusively, replacing the disconnected house system
• Phased delivery across three phases to keep the college of pharmacy operational

The Challenge

The Lachman Institute had to operate as a cGMP-classified analytical and tablet-manufacturing laboratory, but the space was previously fed by a shared building house system that could not deliver the dedicated, controlled environment cGMP and FDA classification require. Advanced instrumentation for characterizing APIs, excipients, and dosage forms, together with tablet-manufacturing equipment, needed tightly controlled air, power, and exhaust independent of the rest of the pharmacy school. Laboratory exhaust also had to be dispersed safely away from the occupied campus. All of it had to be delivered in phases so the college of pharmacy stayed in operation throughout construction.

Our Solution

KeRi disconnected the laboratory from the existing house system and designed dedicated HVAC, electrical, and plumbing serving the lab exclusively, achieving cGMP compliance and classification per FDA guidelines. A new educational and research laboratory for tablet manufacturing was built out and equipped for a tabletop blender, lab-grade tablet press, and related equipment funded by Natoli. The exhaust system was comprehensively upgraded with a high-plume, mixed-airflow exhaust fan so laboratory exhaust disperses safely above the building. The work was completed across three phases to keep the Institute and the surrounding pharmacy school in operation.