Abbott Laboratories COVID Test-Kit Manufacturing Facility

In March 2020, as COVID-19 grew into a pandemic, Abbott Laboratories called on SMRT to partner to expand its IDNow Line. The SMRT design team was on-site at the Abbott Scarborough campus, working with Ewing Cole to design additional facilities with specialized controlled environments, labs, and research and development space. SMRT worked alongside Landry/French Construction, providing on-site construction administration services.

Because of SMRT’s responsiveness and talent, Abbott asked SMRT to complete the impossible – converting an empty warehouse into a BinaxNow (Rapid Antigen Test) facility within 90 days to begin producing a COVID-19 test kit. The result was a fully renovated and reconstructed warehouse with major infrastructure improvements, including electrical and gas service and 100% redundant emergency generation. SMRT was instrumental in obtaining all required permits for this essential facility. Working alongside Landry/French Construction, SMRT designed the facility and its specialized controlled environments and labs while simultaneously under construction. This project has been likened to “designing and building a plane while flying it,” and SMRT’s talent made it possible to complete the project successfully.