Commodity labs are speculatively developed lab buildings, constructed without a specific end user in mind. The users are as yet unknown, and their particular needs can only be anticipated to a certain extent.

In contrast, commodity offices are a well-established building type. The user needs are well-known and do not vary significantly from one office building to another. A rectangular floor plan with a central core has become the standard for this building type.

Unlike offices, there are numerous research directions and types of labs. Speculative lab buildings often offer a generic, flexible lab/office space for life sciences or biochemical research. However, their solutions are not uniform. A standardized morphology applicable universally across different markets for commodity lab buildings has not yet been solidified.

Bio-Technopark Zurich in Schlieren is a private development that provides commodity rental lab space. Its tenants include biotech- and pharmaceutical research companies, as well as public universities and a hospital. The floor plates of its three identical 12-story towers can be utilized as all-lab space, all-office space, or any combination thereof.

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