What It Takes to Build for Radiopharma: Reflections from the Summit

Indianapolis in mid-November felt like an appropriate setting for conversations about radiopharma—clear, focused, and moving at a deliberate pace. At The Radiopharma Facility Design, Engineering, and Construction Summit, the discussions weren’t about hype or future promises. They were about what it actually takes to plan, design, and deliver facilities where precision, safety, and speed all matter at once.

SMRT covered many topics at The Radiopharma Facility Design, Engineering, and Construction Summit in Indianapolis, spending two days presenting and listening closely across every session. From early conversations on site selection and adaptive reuse to detailed discussions around HVAC, shielding, digital delivery, and workplace design, the picture that emerged was consistent and grounded in experience rather than theory.

Radiopharmaceutical facilities are often grouped under the broad heading of life sciences, but in practice they operate under a much narrower margin for error. These are highly controlled environments where regulatory requirements, radiation protection, logistics, science, and complex manufacturing processes overlap. Decisions that may seem minor on paper—how spaces connect, how air moves, how equipment is sequenced—can shape outcomes for years. That reality framed nearly every discussion at the summit.

Several shared lessons stood out.

Flexibility has to be intentional.

Many speakers discussed working within shell buildings or retrofitting existing facilities to accelerate delivery. These approaches can be effective, but only when constraints are understood early and addressed directly. In radiopharma, flexibility doesn’t come from delaying decisions. It comes from making the right decisions early enough that future change remains possible.

Modular strategies are useful—but only when applied with care.

Modular and prefabricated solutions were frequently discussed, particularly in the context of decentralized manufacturing and point-of-care delivery. The tone was pragmatic. Modular approaches are not shortcuts. When aligned with process requirements and regulatory pathways, they can reduce uncertainty and support faster delivery. When applied generically, they introduce new risks rather than solving existing ones.

People and process are part of the system.

As the conference progressed, the focus widened beyond infrastructure to include the experience of the people supporting and working in these environments. Designing spaces that support focus, safety, and long-term performance is increasingly tied to operational success.  Having an engaged workforce improves productivity, innovation, and retention.

Early integration makes the difference.

Across owners, designers, engineers, and builders, there was strong alignment around one principle: successful radiopharma facilities depend on early collaboration and clearly defined scope. In radiopharma, “early” refers to pre-conception as production equipment can take up to two years to build. These projects don’t benefit from late handoffs or loosely defined responsibilities. They demand alignment from the outset.

For those outside the industry, radiopharma work can appear highly technical—and it is—but the underlying principles are familiar. Know what, when, and why you’re building. Understand the constraints. Respect the risks. Design with intention. Radiopharma facilities move quickly, but they cannot be rushed. When speed, safety, and compliance are treated as interconnected rather than competing priorities, the result is an environment that can perform today and adapt tomorrow.