Pharma & Biotech Design
Hixson designs cGMP pharmaceutical and biotech spaces with multidisciplinary coordination that supports user requirements, compliance goals, and efficient project delivery from early definition through detailed design.
Hixson delivers integrated architecture and engineering solutions for life sciences facilities, helping Washington DC organizations plan, design, and optimize compliant, high-performance spaces. From cGMP environments to advanced laboratories, our multidisciplinary team supports complex project goals with the technical depth, coordination, and long-range thinking needed in the capital region's highly regulated science and biotech landscape.

Integrated planning, design, and engineering services for compliant, efficient life sciences and laboratory environments.
Hixson designs cGMP pharmaceutical and biotech spaces with multidisciplinary coordination that supports user requirements, compliance goals, and efficient project delivery from early definition through detailed design.
Our lab design services create high-performance science environments that balance advanced technical requirements, workflow efficiency, office integration, and employee amenities for productive research operations.
Hixson provides integrated building systems engineering to align mechanical, electrical, and facility infrastructure with the demanding performance needs of life sciences spaces.
Environmental, health, and safety compliance support helps clients address permitting, risk reduction, and regulatory considerations as part of a coordinated facility design strategy.
Master planning services help life sciences organizations evaluate future growth, operational needs, and phased development opportunities before committing to major capital investments.
Strategic facility consulting connects business objectives with facility decisions, helping clients prioritize investments, reduce project risk, and build scalable environments for long-term performance.
Hixson helps life sciences organizations bring complex facility goals into focus with integrated architecture and engineering support. For Washington DC projects, that means designing spaces that align with strict compliance expectations, evolving research needs, and stakeholder scrutiny common across the region's biotech, lab, and institutional environments. Our coordinated in-house disciplines reduce handoff issues, improve decision-making, and support better project outcomes.

See how Hixson supports complex facility goals for science, biotech, and advanced manufacturing clients.
Clients choose Hixson for integrated expertise, long-term reliability, and specialized facility knowledge.
Twenty in-house disciplines streamline coordination for complex Washington DC life sciences facility projects.
More than 75 years of sector knowledge supports smarter decisions in regulated science environments.
Proven project management methods help reduce risk and improve outcomes across demanding capital-region projects.
Great Place to Work certified with long associate tenure that supports continuity and accountability.
Experienced specialists supporting complex 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.
A life sciences engineering firm helps organizations plan, design, and optimize facilities used for research, laboratory operations, pharmaceutical production, biotech development, and related technical work. Services often include master planning, lab design, building systems engineering, compliance support, and multidisciplinary coordination. Hixson provides these capabilities through integrated architecture and engineering teams that support projects from early strategy through detailed design.
Connect with our team for guidance on planning, design, and engineering needs.
Hixson supports life sciences and engineering clients across Washington DC and broader North American markets.
North America
Service Area
Mon-Fri 7:30AM-5:30PM
Business Hours
4.5/5 GBP
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Certified workplace culture and team excellence.
Recognized by Interior Design magazine.
Top firm recognition across core sectors.
Share your project goals, facility challenges, or planning needs, and our team will follow up with 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.