Pharma & Biotech Design
Design solutions for pharmaceutical and biotech environments built around cGMP requirements, user needs, and coordinated delivery from early URS definition through multidisciplinary design development.
Hixson delivers integrated cGMP facility design in San Diego for pharmaceutical and biotech teams that need compliant, efficient, scalable spaces. From early planning through multidisciplinary design, our team helps align process, architecture, and engineering with strict regulatory expectations while supporting the speed, quality, and flexibility demanded across Southern California's life sciences market.

Integrated planning, engineering, compliance, and automation services for pharmaceutical and biotech facilities.
Design solutions for pharmaceutical and biotech environments built around cGMP requirements, user needs, and coordinated delivery from early URS definition through multidisciplinary design development.
Process and manufacturing engineering support that translates production goals into practical layouts, utility requirements, equipment planning, and documentation for complex GMP operations.
Automation engineering for GMP facilities, including controls strategy, network design, PLC and HMI development, testing, startup, and commissioning support.
Environmental, health, and safety compliance and permitting guidance to help projects address regulatory obligations and reduce risk during planning and execution.
Long-range facility planning that helps organizations evaluate growth, capacity, workflow, and phased expansion opportunities before major capital decisions are made.
Integrated building systems engineering that coordinates critical facility infrastructure with architectural and process requirements for reliable GMP performance.

We begin by clarifying business objectives, production needs, compliance expectations, and user requirements. For San Diego life sciences projects, this early alignment helps teams move efficiently within competitive development timelines and regional permitting realities.
See how integrated design expertise supports complex regulated facility projects across specialized industries.
Clients choose Hixson for integrated expertise, long-term experience, and disciplined project delivery.
Hixson brings 75+ years of design experience for regulated, technical, and complex facility environments.
Twenty in-house disciplines streamline coordination across architecture, engineering, process, and automation for San Diego projects.
Proven project management methods help reduce risk, improve clarity, and support smoother project execution.
Experience serving North America supports practical solutions for San Diego's fast-moving biotech and pharma landscape.
Experienced specialists supporting complex regulated facility projects.

Manager, Plumbing Systems & Fire Protection Engineering
John oversees the department responsible for the design and engineering of plumbing systems and fire protection engineering for a variety of project types, including new construction, building utility upgrades, utility capacity analyses, and process line additions. John and his team work with a range of systems, including domestic water, process water, hot water production, direct contact water heaters, high pressure/rinse water, compressed air, natural gas, sanitary drainage, process drainage, central sanitation systems, fire pumps, and fire sprinkler systems.

Manager, Controls & Automation Engineering
As the Manager of Hixson's Controls & Automation department, Craig guides the team responsible for designing, implementing, and commissioning advanced control systems and automation solutions. His responsibilities include overseeing the development of automation strategies that streamline manufacturing processes, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure seamless integration of new and existing systems.

Manager, Process Engineering
Warren leads the team providing processing design services, process optimization studies, and process commissioning and FAT, SAT, and IQ activities. He advises on waste, energy, and GHG emissions reductions, and conducts safety and dust evaluations, including PSM/HAZOP. His expertise spans all food and beverage sectors including fluid, dried and cultured dairy products, processed meat, flavors, and prepared foods. Warren is also on the IDFA Food Safety Committee and actively participates in the 3A, SSI steering committee, and work groups.

Manager, Civil Engineering
In his role as Manager of Civil Engineering, Steve leads the team responsible for the planning, design, and engineering of roads, stormwater hydraulics and modeling, and onsite utilities. On project work, Steve is responsible for civil site project design, specifications, technical design, and project coordination with the client, government regulatory bodies, outside consultants, and contractors. As a senior staff member with our firm, Steve also serves as a mentor to newer associates.

Vice President & Director, Project Management Services
Chris, a Hixson officer and member of the Board of Directors, oversees Hixson’s Project Management, Cost Estimating, and Construction Administration departments. Chris also serves in a project management role, leading teams consisting of representatives from the client, Hixson, contractors, and vendors to effective project completion. Chris assumes overall responsibility for development of project delivery strategies, coordination of all Hixson disciplines, and facilitating effective communication and management to focus resources on delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Manager, Mechanical Engineering
Dave brings more than three decades of experience to his role as the Manager of Hixson’s Mechanical Engineering Department. His work has included the design and project management of new facilities, as well as modification of existing facilities for high technology and food processing industries. At a corporate level, Dave is a member of Hixson’s Dairy and Beverage Industry team, which works to continuously improve the value Hixson offers to the dairy industry through development of our knowledge base, services and capabilities.

Manager, Electrical Engineering
Kyle serves as the Manager of Hixson’s Electrical Engineering department. In this role, he oversees the team responsible for the creation and delivery of electrical designs. This includes the design of high, medium, and low voltage power distribution, lighting, telecommunications, and fire alarm systems. Kyle brings more than 15 years of experience in electrical consulting and design to his role. Areas in which Kyle specializes include electrically hazardous area classification, high- and medium-voltage power distribution, protective relaying, arc flash studies, harmonics analysis, cogeneration design, emergency systems design, and complex laboratory designs.

Senior Vice President, and Director, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
Scott, an officer of the firm, leads the teams responsible for mechanical and electrical project tasks and design, specifications, technical content, consultation during equipment selection and installation and systems start-up assistance. In addition, Scott also serves as the Quality Assurance Manager, overseeing the firm’s commitment to quality. Over Scott’s more than three decades of experience, he has worked on greenfield, brownfield, and renovation projects for food & beverage plants in all sectors, labs, pharma & biotech facilities, and workplace projects.

Manager, Manufacturing Engineering
In his role as Manager of Hixson’s Manufacturing Engineering department, Scott leads the team responsible for project consulting and coordination between client, vendor, and internal disciplines within Hixson for overall manufacturing processes, functionality, equipment, and layouts. These team members develop process flow diagrams, equipment lists, and preliminary utility requirements, as well as develop equipment layouts that range from high level master planning to detailed construction documents. In addition to this role, Scott is a member of Hixson’s Meat Industry advisory team, focusing on technologies related to the meat and plant protein industry.

Director of Architecture
Derek is the Director of Hixson’s Architecture department. In this role, Derek leads the teams who design projects for our Food & Beverage, Pharma & Biotech, Laboratory, and Workplace clients. Previously, Derek served as the Manager of Hixson’s Process Layout department, where he directed the team that plays a critical coordination role in the overall development of process models and the 3D equipment model management process. Prior to these management roles, Derek, who began his career with Hixson in 2008, served as a Project Architect.
cGMP facility design typically includes programming, user requirement definition, process flow planning, equipment layout, architectural design, building systems engineering, automation coordination, EH&S considerations, and documentation support. The goal is to create a facility that supports compliant manufacturing, efficient operations, maintainability, and future growth while aligning the building, utilities, and process needs from the start.
Talk with our team about your facility goals and requirements.
Hixson supports regulated facility projects across San Diego and broader North American service regions.
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Confirm fit, scope, and next steps with our team.
Certified workplace culture and team excellence
Ranked No. 178 by Interior Design
Long-standing architecture and engineering expertise
Share your project goals, timeline, and facility requirements, and Hixson's team will help outline the right next steps.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 513-241-1230. You can also send us a quick email at info@hixson-inc.com.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 513-241-1230. You can also send us a quick email at info@hixson-inc.com.