By Dyke Hendrickson, Senior Staff Writer

BioMetics Inc. recently expanded it's space in Waltham to accommodate more growth - something that it specializes in doing for other companies.

The key segment of the company is involved in the design and validation of production facilities for biologics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. BioMetics, located at 300 Bear Hill Road, expanded its office space from several thousand square feet to nearly 12,000 square feet, according to company officials.

One reason is that it's design and consulting business is thriving. It has developed projects for Celltech, ImmunoGen, Abbott, Transkaryotic Therapies and Introgen in recent months.

One of its largest projects is in Hopkinton, where it is developing state-approved facilities for Acambis, the company that recently won a $428 million federal contract to manufacture smallpox vaccine.

Since the mandate of Acambis is to create close to 200 million doses of smallpox vaccine, the construction of the labs and manufacturing units must be precise.

"The space did belong to Immunogen," said Stephen Fitzpatrick, Biometics founder and president. "Now it goes to Acambis, which has a much different business plan."

"It's about 50,000 square feet, and it's up to us to get it ready for the time it begins its manufacturing process. If the space is not validated by scientists - and government officials - the project might be delayed." Biometics was founded in 1991. The company has 30 employees in its expanding Waltham offices and about six in a satellite office in Toronto.