TheLAB Berkeley is a transformative life sciences campus developed by Steelwave in the heart of West Berkeley. This project, built by Lusardi Construction, blends adaptive reuse and modern infrastructure to support the Bay Area’s growing biotech and R&D sectors.

The work involved the core and shell retrofit of three historic warehouse buildings, totaling over 59,000 square feet, originally constructed with arched roof structures and exposed structural elements. The buildings were converted to support future laboratory and office use, while preserving industrial character and introducing modern features such as second-floor mezzanines, exterior seating balconies, and sandblasted structural steel.

Key construction elements included:
• Seismic upgrades to meet current codes
• Installation of new mezzanine levels using engineered beams and OSB for cost efficiency
• Partial demolition of one building, with two roof sections retained as open-air canopies
• Construction of an outdoor breezeway canopy connecting the campus

Despite logistical accessibility, the project faced challenges including hazardous soil requiring certified disposal, unexpected existing conditions, rain impacts to partially exposed structures, and permitting delays. Overlapping tenant improvement work also required tight coordination and flexibility to maintain schedule momentum.

Owner-driven change orders totaled over $2M, increasing the original contract from $13M to a final value of $15.1M. Value engineering efforts helped control costs, such as revising the trellis from all-steel to a steel/wood hybrid.

While the project was not LEED certified, it reflected sustainable practices and was designed to integrate with the greater campus plan, which includes future expansion phases and campus-wide amenities like outdoor collaboration areas, rooftop decks, and pedestrian-friendly walkways.

TheLAB Berkeley campus is located just three blocks from Berkeley’s 4th Street retail corridor and less than a mile from the UC Berkeley campus—positioning it as a key player in the East Bay’s innovation economy. The successful delivery of this complex renovation underscores Lusardi Construction’s expertise in managing adaptive reuse, life science readiness, and high-tech building transformation.