Fisher Clinical Services Expansion

7554 Schantz Road, Allentown, PA 18106

Client: Fisher Clinical Services
Owner: Fisher Clinical Services

Fisher Clinical Services, Inc. (FCS) is an international company that produces state-of-the-art packaging for the pharmaceutical industry with manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States. When FCS needed to expand its main U.S. distribution center in Allentown, PA, it retained Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. (BIA) as its prime Engineering/Architectural professional for the design and construction of the expansion. In addition to providing survey, and all engineering (i.e., civil, environmental, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection) services, BIA also was responsible for contracting sub-consultants, such as architects and geo-tech consultants, as well as bid analysis and construction administration. The expansion involved an 82,000-square foot Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) pharmaceutical warehouse to be added on to their 220,000-square foot GMP pharmaceutical packaging facility. The expanded facility is of tilt-up construction with a state of the art HVAC system to control the critical temperature and humidity requirements. The addition includes two mezzanine levels totaling 8,800-square feet, as well as 7,600-square feet of office and training room space. In addition to the expansion, the project involved renovations to the existing facility’s distribution and receiving center; the addition of a flammable storage room as well as infrastructure planning for future expansion to the facility’s clean rooms.

Challenges: The key to the FCS expansion was to maximize the size of the proposed addition, on the irregularly shaped lot, without disturbing existing facilities. The site included just enough space for the expansion, but posed many challenges involving storm water conveyance, geological concerns, and fire protection issues. Major earthwork was required for the addition including the removal of unsuitable material and the placement of structural fill. In addition, the parking lot needed to be expanded without encroaching on the existing detention basin.

Design Dates:
Construction Dates: September, 2004 - June, 2005