RayzeBio Radiopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility

Radiopharmaceutical therapeutics (RPTs) are an emerging and promising modality for next-generation cancer treatment. RPTs rely on therapeutic radioisotopes to deliver treatment with much higher precision than the current standard of care.

For RayzeBio, a California-based radiopharmaceutical company, speed to market is critical for both product and company success. Due to the short half-life of radiopharmaceuticals, speed to patient is equally important. In response to the growing industry, the greater Indianapolis region has emerged as a burgeoning hub due to its proximity to major distribution infrastructure and accessibility to both U.S. and overseas markets.

RayzeBio selected SMRT as their partner to bring their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility online. From site selection to programming to detailed design and construction oversight, SMRT collaborated closely with the client to convert a 63,000-square-foot warehouse into an R&D and manufacturing facility, including ISO 7 cleanrooms. The presence of radioactive source material presented unique architectural and engineering challenges. Moreover, the limited half-life of the product necessitated highly reliable utilities and specialized mechanical systems. In addition, SMRT worked with specialized equipment vendors/suppliers to design the space appropriately for equipment/process needs.

The facility also includes office space designed around employee well-being, retention, and future flexibility. Daylighting was also a priority for the client, and the design allows natural light and views to the outside from within the manufacturing space. Windows line the corridor between the offices and lab spaces, as well as in the cleanrooms, providing employees with outdoor views. While managing budgets, our design team successfully delivered a functional office space prioritizing employee health and satisfaction.

On February 26, 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb announced the purchase of RayzeBio. Read more about the acquisition here.

Client

RayzeBio

Location

Indianapolis, IN

Square Feet

77,000

Completion Year

2024

"...Having led many large capital projects related to GMP facility builds, the choice of architect was of primary importance. SMRT has proven to be an industry leader and has exceeded my expectations. The SMRT team has consistently gone above and beyond at each step of the process. They’re a true client-centric partner. The entire organization demonstrates an ownership mentality, and collectively they strive to be the best partner possible. I highly recommend SMRT as a first-choice business partner."

—Kevin Rosenthal
Vice President, Site Head | RayzeBio, A Bristol Myers Squibb Company

Cascading windows foster employee connection and collaboration, improving employee well-being.

Separate corridors greatly influence production by allowing for the smooth flow of materials and better control over incoming and outgoing materials and people. Corridors connect the clean room GMP spaces and allow employees to move between spaces without adding or removing personal protective equipment (PPE). Windows with exterior views make the interior space feel larger and allow employees within the GMP spaces to see outside. This benefits employees' well-being, giving them a sense of the time of day and connections to their external environments.

An innovative design brings a more relaxed atmosphere to the conference room, allowing employees to comfortably collaborate.

Indirect light flows in from the exterior corridor, connecting occupants to their surrounding areas. The perimeter corridor protects against incidental contact by allowing visitors to view lab activities without wearing PPE.

The laboratory space is designed to meet the demands of a flexible working environment, where the benches can be reconfigured as requirements change.

The R&D lab, mirroring the Quality Control Lab, was designed for flexibility. Lab benches are tailored in close coordination with vendors to meet client needs and experimental methods. Certain areas feature concrete floor slabs, 12-18 inches thick, to support specialized equipment, allowing Rayzebio to update or replace equipment as new research emerges.

The clean rooms require multilevel support, including new dunnage platforms on the roof for chillers and air handlers that condition the fresh air supply. A Make-Up Air unit with multiple fans ensures redundancy for critical systems.

The mezzanine features an unfinished concrete floor with recirculating air handlers that manage air changes and room requirements. Fresh and makeup air is ducted into these units from exhausted spaces.

The walkable ceiling houses HEPA fans that filter air supplied to the clean rooms, with return air ducts leading to plenums below for efficient air circulation from top to bottom.

The mezzanine houses the recirculating air handlers, enabling the facilities team to maintain the units centrally. Its walkable ceiling permits the inspection and repair of air distribution systems without accessing clean rooms from below.

Two independent dunnage platforms, one for supply air and the other for exhaust, were coordinated to prevent exhaust air from re-entering through the supply ductwork. The building's columns and footings were reinforced to support the added weight.