Describes a case study of the commissioning process for an addition to and the subsequent renovation of the research laboratory of a paediatric teaching hospital in the USA. The scope of the project included increasing the amount of research space from 210,000 ft² to 391,000 ft², and on completion of the addition, modernising the existing space. States that lessons learned include the importance of a strong commitment by all parties involved throughout the process, keeping the procedures as simple as possible and recognising that some plans work better on paper than in practice.

KEYWORDS: Commissioning, case studies, USA, hospitals, laboratories, modernising, research.