Lab Spaces in Los Angeles
Lab Space for Rent Los Angeles
Los Angeles, LA or the City of Angels is one of the most popular cities in the world. It is a global metropolis, and the second largest city in the United State, a hub for different businesses from the financial, commercial, cultural and medical world. It is the seat of Los Angeles County, which has an estimated 9.86 million residents in 2022.
Surrounded by the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains, and 75 miles of coastline, the city extends for 44 miles (71 km) north-south and 29 miles (47 km) east-west. The perimeter of the city is 342 miles (550 km). Los Angeles CA covers over 450 square miles and is composed of approximately 40 distinct neighbourhoods.
The current population of Los Angeles, California is 3,985,520 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates, compared to the last official US Census in 2010 recorded the population at 3,795,510.
An Exciting Place to Live and rent
From shopping at high-quality retailers, or dining at world-class restaurants, to getting entertained by the Walk of Fame and the creative industry, Los Angeles has a large variety of sectors that make this city so lively.
As far as renting in Los Angeles goes, over the past month, the average rent for a studio apartment increased to $1,695. The average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment reached $2,400, and the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is now $3,259.
The cost for retail space for lease in Los Angeles is about $33.40 per square foot on average. The price of the space you'll need will depend on a variety of factors including amenities, size, location, etc. when renting retail space in Los Angeles, CA.
The most successful industries apart from entertainment and film are telecommunications, transportation, law, aerospace, technology and healthcare.
Recent studies show that the life science industry is booming in Los Angeles since the pandemic, and the L.A.-Orange County region ranks No. 7 for research talent and boasts the second-most annual graduates in biological and biomedical sciences in the country.
Los Angeles County represents nearly 20% of all life science direct employment in California — 96,844 direct jobs and it also received $1.94 billion in NIH funding in 2020. To add to this, almost half of all biological and biomedical sciences PHD’s in the country’s largest markets are issued from Orange County, especially thanks to universities like UCLA, UC- Irvine and the University of Southern California.
Home to prestigious research institutions, Los Angeles also has a large community of bioscience startups.
Innovators in the lab startup space have helped attract not just talent, but also consider working capital.
Experts of this fast-growing life sciences industry explain that the major differences between smaller markets like L.A. and the bigger ones like San Diego lie in the abilities to produce and especially maintain talent, not to mention L.A.'s infrastructure and investment potential.
Venture capital funding in life sciences in L.A. jumped 566 % in the last five years, as CBRE reported.
Recent data also shows that the unemployment rate in life sciences is very low at the moment. Even with a large number of graduates in biological and biomedical sciences, the country’s unemployment rate for life, physical and social sciences was less than 1 per cent as of April.
All these factors contributed to the increasing need for new lab space for rent in Los Angeles, with a national average rent per square foot for lab space being $24.30.
But what is a lab space and what are the essentials that you need when renting a lab space?
What is a lab space?
Laboratories spaces are designed for specific needs of industries such as pharmaceutical, chemical or an activity like working with biological agents or small volume manufacture of highly potent products.
Types of lab spaces to lease
Depending on their specific needs, there are many types of lab spaces to lease. These include:
-Clinical and Medical Laboratories
These laboratories are where tests are carried out on clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
-Analytical and Quality Laboratories
Quality control is a critical element in laboratory monitoring that helps ensure product integrity and process accuracy.
-Cleanrooms
A cleanroom is a controlled environment where pollutants like dust, airborne microbes, and aerosol particles are filtered out to provide the cleanest area possible.
-Biosafety Laboratories
These are used by scientists to study contagious materials safely and effectively.
-Research & Development Laboratories
This is a facility with the primary purpose of conducting research and development into new processes and products.
Lab space essentials
A well-designed lab needs to include a large space for natural movement - quick access to safety features is a must when renting out a lab space: emergency shower, fire detection and protection system, eyewash station, and biosafety cabinets are all things to consider.
Other things to add to the list when considering finding the best lab space for rent in Los Angeles are related to the infrastructure: electrical systems, airflow systems, plumbing and furniture.
Heating and ventilation Systems
Laboratories require more heating or ventilation than office spaces do and the electrical systems need to be able to handle the demand of a high amount of electricity- so a backup generator should be taken into consideration.
Ultra purification system
The water used in the laboratory must be highly filtered - which means that an ultra purification system should be installed.
Lab Furniture
As far as lab furniture goes, this needs to be made of highly resistant material, due to the potential use of caustic chemicals.
Special Waste Disposal
To add more, you need special waste disposal, as much of the waste produced in laboratories cannot be disposed of in the municipal waste. This is because the most common types of waste are biohazardous and chemical waste- which require a contract with specialized waste disposal services.
An important factor to be considered here is the costs for waste pickup and incineration. This can vary but generally start at around $1 per pound of waste, plus pickup fees of $100-150.
Environmental Health & Safety
Health and Safety standards are enforceable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, called Cal/Osha in California.
Lab spaces have many more regulations imposed than the average office, and OSHA violations are a high price to pay. Many labs hire a specialized health and safety consultant or have to pay an employee to take on this responsibility- both valid options and important to consider when looking to rent a lab space.
Tips for leasing your first lab space
If you are finally ready to move from renting office space to renting a lab space, there are some tips to take into consideration, especially if you are a first-timer:
1. Make sure you have a complete equipment list
This list includes everything from specialized equipment like a BSC or autoclave to standard office equipment like copy machines, so make sure you take your time when putting it together. Some of the essential science equipment a lab must have are: Funnels and bottles, conical flask, test tubes, lab burner, rubber tubing, burettes and pipettes or lab stands.
2.Get an estimate on overall operating expenses
Apart from the base rent, other charges like Common area maintenance, property taxes, and landlord’s insurance should be considered. These can range from $0.90-$1.50 per square foot and they are the tenant’s responsibility.
3. Start your search early
Consider starting your search for a lab space rent at least 6-12 months before you need occupancy, as this will allow you to complete the works in case of customizations needed.
4. Consider how long your funds will last
When renting lab space, you need to make sure that you are covered until the next round of funding, so you can cover the rent and all the expenses required when leasing a lab space.
5. The importance of the location
Apart from easy access to transport, make sure your lab space for rent is close to research institutions and similar life science firms. Also, having access to scientists and experienced workers is a key factor to consider when it comes to location. The location of the lab space you rent should also be close to amenities like restaurants, hotels, coffee shops or retail.
Top 3 picks for lab spaces for rent in Los Angeles:
Life-sciences real estate is growing across the United States and the conversion of office space to lab space is seeing big gains Los Angeles has become the busiest market today.
“Lab vacancy rates are tight in most markets, even amid strong construction activity. Expanding life sciences companies can choose from dozens of U.S. markets depending on their labour and real estate needs,” said Ian Anderson, CBRE’s America's head of life science and health care research.
To help you further narrow down your search for lab space for rent in Los Angeles, we have come up with our top three picks.
1. 2080 Century Park E Los Angeles
This class A building is located in the central part of Century City, Los Angeles, at just 19 minutes drive from Los Angeles International Airport, 28 minutes drive from Bob Hope Airport and 38 minutes drive from Long Beach-Daugherty Field Airport.
This building- named Century City Medical Plaza - has 18 stories and approximately 200,000 square feet to rent.
It's located close to Beverly Hills and Westwood, within walking distance from shopping venues, restaurants, hotels and the under-construction Metrolink Century City station.
Some of the building’s amenities include:
-Parking -800 covered parking spaces at $175/month and reserved parking at $275/month
-Pharmacy, restaurant, dry cleaners, diagnostic lab and MRI facility on site
-Fire- Life -Safety and sprinkler system
- 24 hours CCTV and security guard service
-Online tenant portal
-Typical floor size:11,111 square foot
2. 11500 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles
This is a 6-story building, with a typical floor size of 41,018 square feet.
Located at just 15 minutes drive from Los Angeles Airport, 28 minutes drive from Bob Hope Airport and 35 minutes drive from Long Beach-Daugherty Field Airport. With excellent access to the 405 & 10 Freeways, this 4-star lab space offers on-site property management and conference facility, and 10,000 square feet of landscape and zen garden.
Adjacent to hotels, shopping venues and restaurants, it offers the following amenities:
-Parking: Covered parking at $210/month and reserved parking at $305/month
-fitness centre
-food service
-close to subway
-banking
3.11801 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles
This building is located near Metro's Expo/Bundy Station and is only a 15 minutes drive from Los Angeles International Airport, 28 minutes drive from Bob Hope Airport and 35 minutes drive from Long Beach-Daugherty Field Airport. This approximately 50,000-square-foot structure is part of the Sawtelle neighborhood, is close to hotels and retail stores and has 105 parking spaces. Sawtelle is a culture-filled enclave, bounded by Santa Monica on the west, by Mar Vista and Palms to the south, Brentwood to the north and by Century City to the east. Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Downtown are all approximately within half an hour's reach.
The Sawtelle neighborhood is also a well-known school district, providing highly rated education to children from a diverse variety of backgrounds. The property type is retail and the subtype is freestanding. This is a class C building from 1942 and is close to many restaurants, groceries, hotels and fitness centers.
The take home
Los Angeles is home to almost half of the country’s biological and biomedical sciences PhDs. The ability to produce and maintain talent, the infrastructure and the 2020 pandemic have all contributed to the increased demand for lab spaces in Los Angeles.
Whether you just landed your first funding or have experience in leasing a lab space, L.A. has something in store for everyone.
If you are searching for the perfect lab space to rent in Los Angeles, we can offer you the assistance you need, along with helpful tips for a successful lease- do not hesitate to contact our expert team members for more information!
