IMEG provided engineering design for Valent BioSciences Corporation’s new Biorational Research Center at Innovation Park Lake County in Libertyville, Illinois.
Valent, a maker of environmentally friendly pesticides, built out 65,000-sf of dedicated lab and office space at Innovation Park as a replacement for its existing multiple-building research site in Long Grove, Illinois. The self-contained, state-of-the-art research center addition brings the company’s previously segregated microbiology division areas together under one roof.
The general microbiology labs, the fermentation division, and the nematology division each occupy their own space within the Research Center addition. Unique features of the general microbiology laboratories and support spaces include:

  • Laboratory benches with electrical raceways installed at a workable height
  • An alcove with BioSafety cabinets next to the lab
  • Centrifuges, incubators, refrigerator/freezers and storage in adjacent areas or rooms outside of the lab
  • Flexible laboratory suite/layout to accommodate the required laboratory casework.

The fermentation division previously occupied two primary spaces – a large fermenting pilot plant and a room of small fermenters. The new facility consolidated both into one area that includes:

  • A fermenter room with enhanced capacities that is twice the size of the previous facility
  • A large fermenting room and separate control room with visual access of the fermenting processes
  • New and improved autoclave areas
  • Capacity to add more fermenters for future expansion

The nematology space houses one main laboratory with an alcove for shared equipment, including an autoclave. The scientists who utilize this space required a workable space similar in size to their previous facility with additional root health display areas and flexibility.
Additionally, several laboratories are dedicated to an insectarium and are governed by and designed to APHIS regulations. The new facility also includes a 10,000-sf, four-zone greenhouse for the nematology group that connects to the main building. The group shares the headhouse with the plant sciences division, so flexible equipment and movable carts were incorporated into the greenhouse design.
Additional components of the overall research center addition included office space, employee huddle rooms, a zen garden, and new entrance.