PROJECT INFO

Location: Bangalore, India
Completion Date: 2024
Project Type: Technical Laboratories – Materials Lab, Inverter Lab, HV Systems Lab, Altitude Test Chamber, E Machine Lab, Power Electronics Charging Lab
Size: 9,500 sq ft / ~880 sq m
Scope of Work: Following the successful completion of JLR’s 4th Floor workplace in Bangalore, Crux Design Studio was appointed to lead the design of a new specialist laboratory suite on a lower level of the same building. The scope included six high-performance labs with unique technical and environmental requirements. Crux was responsible for delivering a Stage 3+ design, closely coordinating with JLR’s lab stakeholders and local delivery partners to ensure rapid, responsive, and technically robust results.


JLR – PHASE 2 LABORATORIES

Earmarked initially as a car workshop, the 9,500 sq ft space was reassigned for a new and rapidly expanding lab function once it became clear that vehicle access constraints would limit its feasibility for workshop use. With JLR’s Bangalore engineering team scaling faster than anticipated, the brief changed in real time. On an accelerated timeline, Crux was tasked with adapting to the evolving requirements of newly formed teams and translating complex engineering needs into spatial and environmental solutions.

The labs- Materials, Inverter, HV Systems, Altitude Test Chamber, E Machine, and Power Electronics Charging – were critical to JLR’s growing EV and systems engineering programmes, requiring high levels of environmental control, specialist equipment, and infrastructure resilience.

Design Concept

The design’s core was flexibility, speed, and technical rigour. Crux worked closely with lab stakeholders to build detailed room data sheets, catalogue all known equipment, and ensure the spatial layout supported the testing processes and engineering flows.

The design incorporated modular strategies wherever possible to allow for further adaptation as teams matured and test protocols evolved. Acoustic and thermal considerations were carefully integrated, alongside environmental controls required for altitude and high-voltage equipment testing. Service routes, lab segregation, and operational safety were planned in concert to ensure long-term performance without compromising on speed of delivery.

Challenges & Solutions

The biggest challenge was designing in parallel with a fast-moving brief. Crux’s team worked in an agile, responsive way, redesigning the original workshop layout into high-spec lab environments with precision and speed. The appointment of a new, competent delivery partner was a turning point: the team made key improvements to the MEP solution, increasing available head height by 300mm in a space where every millimetre counted.

However, not all appointed consultants performed to the same standard. The Stage 4 MEP designer, brought in through a separate route, delayed the project by nearly 12 months due to poor coordination, insufficient technical depth, and inadequate drawings. The disconnect between early design quality and late-stage delivery reinforced a critical, ongoing lesson: it is beneficial for Crux to be involved in selecting the delivery team and reviewing technical drawings well beyond Stage 3.

Final Outcome

Despite the challenges, the completed lab suite is an impressive technical environment now serving as the operational heart of several JLR R&D programmes in India. The collaboration between Crux, JLR, and the local delivery team resulted in a robust, high-functioning space supporting current and future research needs. The project also cemented the importance of early delivery team engagement and rigorous technical oversight, which are critical for complex lab environments where speed cannot come at the cost of quality.

Key Features

  • Specialist Lab Suite – Six technical labs supporting EV and systems R&D: Materials, Inverter, HV Systems, Altitude Chamber, E Machine, and Power Electronics Charging.
  • Adaptive Planning – Reimagined from car workshop to lab suite in response to real-time client needs.
  • Stakeholder Engagement – Developed detailed room data sheets through close collaboration with lab teams.
  • Agile Re-Design – Flexible, iterative process to meet rapidly changing team and equipment requirements.
  • MEP Innovation – Delivery team increased head height by 300mm through design refinements.
  • Stage 4 Challenges – External MEP consultant delayed delivery by 12 months with substandard output.
  • Strategic Learning – Reinforced the need for Crux to lead or participate in delivery team selection and drawing reviews.
  • Long-Term Value – Provides critical infrastructure for ongoing R&D activity in a growing innovation hub.