Formo
Real cheese, made without the cow
- Location
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Year
- 2022
- Size
- 1000 m²
- Lab area
- 1255 m²
- Safety level
- S1
The team at Formo is evolving dairy, using precision fermentation to create animal-free milk proteins in the lab, which are then turned into indulgent cheeses in the traditional, artisan way. At the end of 2021, Formo teamed up with the Smart Lab Architects to find a new location for their R&D Lab as well as an ambitious Bioreactor pilot plant. Not only did we find a beautiful lab space: we planned, designed, rebuilt & equipped all of its 1000m² across two floors, and finally guided the merge of Formo's existing R&D facility into this new building, the Formo "Culture Campus" - all within just six months.
Two weeks in 4 minutes
Discover
Finding a move-in-ready Lab the size of Formo's ambitions wasn't easy, so we searched the real estate market and evaluated over 80 sites all across western Germany and even in the Netherlands. With our automated monitoring tools, we found an amazing location in Frankfurt within a week that ticked all the boxes and that passed the rigorous due diligence checks we conducted with our expert partners. A month later we had a signed rental contract and were ready to go.
Design
In two months we designed the lab, planned all constructional changes, briefed the construction workers and zoned all lab rooms into an efficient layout, optimized for Formo's workflows. For the custom builds that really give the lab its unique feel, we've generated 3D renderings and detailed technical specifications. Our goal in every Lab we design is to make it a place that the team identifies with and enjoys working in. The Formo Lab is no exception to that human-centric design approach, so we designed every aspect down to the rooms' signage to not only be efficient, but also visually appealing and in line with the Formo brand identity. You can feel that this is a Formo Lab.
Bioreactor Backwall
Build
Although the building Formo moved into was in great condition, we did need to break down parts of the previous lab and construct new spaces for the "Bioreactor Battle Station", the heart of Formo's precision fermentation pilot plant. Luckily, our friends at Waldner were at the ready to help us out with their expertise and join us on-site with a specialist team. Overall, around a dozen different construction companies were involved to get the lab operational. As we coordinate digitally with most of these interdisciplinary expert teams, we had the location move-in ready in a matter of weeks, not months. Digital briefings to construction companies, supported by VR content that can be viewed on any phone at any time, ensured high quality and exact compliance with our design specifications without the need for micromanagement on site.
Buy
Through our network of vendors, we procured a list of over 700 different consumables, machines, and other lab equipment items, managing more than a thousand requested positions in the process. We navigated supply chain interruptions, leveraging strong partnerships to address bottlenecks swiftly. This phase included arranging CapEx-friendly financing solutions, discounts, and deployments of professionally refurbished equipment, as well as brokering pre-service testing and maintenance contracts. We coordinated the delivery and distribution of about 20 palettes worth of lab equipment, buffered in a specialized storage facility.
Move
This phase involved the meticulous planning and execution of relocating Formo's existing R&D facility into the new Culture Campus. We managed the logistical complexities of moving three trailer truckloads of sensitive equipment from Formo's old lab, ensuring a smooth transition. Our team orchestrated the buffered storage and final delivery of all procured items, aligning perfectly with the move-in schedule. The goal was a seamless merge without interrupting Formo's critical research and development activities.
Sprint
For a lab this size we've organized a two-week sprint to put all the pieces we've prepared in the previous months into place. Together with the whole Formo team and many outstanding partners, we equipped the rooms with all kinds of lab machinery and consumables you need to create the future of food. We installed smart lighting and multi-room sound systems, carried in the massive 100L bioreactor heart piece and even recycled the enormous wooden crate it came in into a terrace that invites for lunch together and after-work drinks in the sun. All the while throughout the Sprint, we've kept distributing dozens of palettes of incoming shipments and truckloads of equipment that got moved from Formo's prior Lab.
Key Achievements
1000m² Lab & Pilot Plant in 6 Months
Planned, designed, rebuilt, & equipped over 1000m² across two floors, including R&D and a Bioreactor pilot plant, all within an ambitious six-month timeline.
Fast-Tracked Site Acquisition
Identified a suitable Frankfurt location among 80+ sites within a week using automated tools, securing a signed rental contract within a month after rigorous due diligence.
Custom Human-Centric Design
Designed a visually appealing and efficient lab environment, optimized for Formo's workflows and brand identity, fostering a strong team connection to the space.
Seamless Procurement & Relocation
Procured over 700 diverse lab items and managed multiple trailer truckloads of equipment relocation during global supply chain interruptions, leveraging strong vendor partnerships.
Innovative Workspace Integration
Transformed a bioreactor shipping crate into an outdoor terrace, enhancing team collaboration and well-being during the final sprint phase.
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