Protein Design Labs – Industrial Campus

The Challenge

This 200,000 square-foot pharmaceutical production facility, located on a 29-acre site, required comprehensive site development for a highly technical industrial use. The facility included manufacturing, warehousing, utilities, laboratories, and administrative spaces. The project demanded precise coordination between civil design and complex mechanical, electrical, and industrial systems. Each critical to the success of the facility’s function and regulatory compliance.

Civil Engineering Scope and Contributions

• Grading and Stormwater Management: Designed grading and stormwater systems to support large roof areas, paved surfaces, and sensitive interior functions while complying with municipal stormwater standards and minimizing impacts to adjacent properties.

• Utility Infrastructure Integration: Coordinated routing and placement of sanitary sewer, water, storm, and dry utilities, ensuring compatibility with both site constraints and internal building systems critical to pharmaceutical operations.

• Site Access and Security Coordination: Designed entry and circulation drives to accommodate delivery vehicles, emergency access, and secure perimeter fencing. Integrated with active security gate systems and lockdown features to support facility access control protocols.

• Interdisciplinary Coordination: Collaborated closely with MEP engineers and the industrial design team to align utility connections, grading elevations, and access points with mechanical yards, process areas, and utility buildings. Coordination helped prevent costly conflicts during construction.

• Regulatory Compliance: Supported permitting and agency coordination with the City of Brooklyn Park and relevant environmental authorities to meet all code requirements and obtain necessary approvals.

The Outcome

• Fully Integrated Industrial Site: The civil design enabled a seamless interface between the building’s complex operational systems and the site infrastructure.

• Regulatory Approval Achieved: All site development components were reviewed and approved by the appropriate agencies.

• Operational Efficiency Delivered: The final site layout supported secure, functional access and long-term performance of the facility’s mission-critical operations.