Alternate Models for Bioscience Research Facilities: Making the Case for Urban Integration

2025 Lab Design Conference speaker—Eddie Hall, architect and studio director at MBH Architects

As cities continue to expand and urban land becomes increasingly scarce, biosciences are undergoing a quiet revolution—one not of groundbreaking lab techniques or medical breakthroughs, but of location. The traditional model of sprawling suburban research campuses is giving way to a new era: integrated, urban bioscience research facilities that connect directly with the neighborhoods they inhabit.

Eddie Hall, architect and studio director at MBH Architects, presented a compelling case for this shift during the 2025 Lab Design Conference in Denver, drawing from more than a decade of experience designing and constructing lab spaces in the Bay Area and San Diego. His presentation, "Alternate Models for Bioscience Research Facilities: A Case for Urban Integration," laid out why integrating bioscience into city environments isn't just feasible—it's advantageous across financial, environmental, operational, and social metrics.

"The idea of an integrated model is more than just a location—a lab in a city is not really anything new," Hall said. "Integration is really about opening up the doors, embracing the community around a lab facility."

Talent and innovation: the urban advantage

One of the primary drivers of urban integration is access to scientific talent. Small biotech startups, especially those operating in incubator models, need to attract top researchers, many of whom prefer to live and work in cities with cultural diversity, strong academic ties, and vibrant neighborhoods.

"These small startups are in a talent war. They're looking for top researchers. And top researchers prefer urban settings for lifestyle, career opportunities, and cultural diversity," Hall noted.

By positioning labs near major universities and within walkable urban districts, companies benefit from a constant influx of young, highly skilled graduates and the collaboration opportunities that arise from proximity to academia and other startups.

More innovative land use through adaptive reuse and infill

Urban lab development isn't just about location—it's about rethinking the value of existing spaces. Adaptive reuse and infill strategies allow developers to unlock value in overlooked parcels and historically significant structures.

Take MBH's adaptive reuse of the Berkeley Art Museum, a brutalist concrete structure built in 1972. Once deemed seismically unsafe and slated for demolition, the building was reimagined into a vibrant bioscience incubator.

"We adapted the art galleries into dedicated wet lab suites with six control zones, working with the existing architecture," Hall explained. "Again, it's historic. We can't change it too much. And we adapted the open spaces to collaboration and open office."

This approach not only preserved a beloved community landmark but also slashed construction time and costs, offered sustainability benefits, and strengthened the surrounding neighborhood by retaining an iconic structure.

In another example, the Shipways site in Alameda—a former World War II shipbuilding platform—was repurposed for a state-of-the-art 145,000-square-foot life science facility. Despite prior failed attempts at residential or office developments, the site proved ideal for laboratory use due to the resilience of its concrete platform and the availability of space for public amenities.

"We're enhancing the public realm, we're creating and place-making, and we're creating a fantastic life science facility that's got real identity," Hall said.

Sustainability by design

Urban integration aligns naturally with sustainability goals. Reusing buildings reduces embodied carbon, while denser footprints and access to public transportation minimize operational carbon. In San Carlos, MBH's 930 Brittan Avenue project transformed two old auto parts warehouses into a hybrid lab and collaboration hub—complete with solar panels, a fuel cell system, and transparent street-level labs that invite public curiosity.

"We were able to streamline both the permitting process and, importantly, we helped our client achieve their ESG goals by reusing and not throwing part of the building away," Hall noted. "And we did it strategically."

He emphasized that by creatively rethinking how to utilize space—such as making an all-hands area double as a community room—developers can achieve more with less while fostering openness.

"We think that the best buildings are inherently sustainable because they have enduring value," he said.

Financial innovation and public buy-In

One of the strongest cases for urban integration lies in the diverse financing models it enables. Urban labs benefit from proximity to venture capital, university partnerships, philanthropic donors, and public incentives. Hall pointed to the Baker Bioengineering Hub in San Francisco, which was funded through a unique blend of private investment from QB3, philanthropic support from the Gerson Baker Foundation, and university backing from UC Berkeley.

"They reached out to locals and got a philanthropic partner in the [Barbara and] Gerson Bakar Foundation to pitch in on the project," Hall said. This multi-stream funding enabled the complete seismic upgrades and modernization of lab systems in an existing building, delivering value, speed, and sustainability in one package. "Through that, and through university partnership with UC Berkeley, they were able to come up with enough resources to retrofit this building."

Challenges and the importance of community engagement

Urban siting isn't without challenges. Developers and architects must navigate strict codes, manage noise and vibration from city environments, and consider community sensitivities around lab operations.

"We have to think carefully about deliveries, access points, all those little hidey holes around a building in an urban setting—and then, finally, sight lines. I wouldn't want to open my bedroom curtain and look into somebody's life science lab if they're working late at night," Hall said.

Equally critical is the public narrative. Misinformation about lab safety can spark opposition, so transparency is essential. Hall shared how the one project overcame public resistance by putting scientists front and center at a public hearing.

"MBC Bio Labs simply brought their scientists in to talk to the city of San Francisco in a public hearing in front of everyone," Hall said, explaining that the company talked to the audience about their research and why they selected that area of the city for their facility. "It's pretty difficult to argue with somebody who's trying to cure Alzheimer's, or somebody who's doing cancer research," Hall noted.

This model of community engagement goes beyond public meetings. Many urban labs now host open houses, educational events for local children, and ongoing programs that strengthen neighborhood ties. Hall noted that some labs hold a kids' education day for neighborhood children. "That's how a successful, successfully integrated lab can work with the community."

Call to action

Hall concluded with a passionate call to reimagine how cities and science intersect: "Embrace urban integration. Architects: design boldly, think creatively, and communicate clearly. Developers: recognize the potential value of these alternate models. Don't get slotted into making a life science facility purpose-built that's not flexible. End users: be forward-looking. Poll your teams, ask them what they need, ask them what they want, and ask them what they don't want, and that's what should be part of those early conversations for the next life science facility."

Communities must recognize the value of research not only as a scientific pursuit but as a force for local investment, education, and social good. When cities and science work together—through adaptive reuse, inclusive design, and genuine community engagement—labs can become not just places of innovation, but symbols of shared progress and resilience.

The 2026 Lab Design Conference is heading to Orlando, FL, on May 11–14! Explore how adaptive reuse and community-driven development are shaping the future of lab planning. Get updates on the agenda, networking events, workshops, and lab tours at https://www.labdesignconference.com/.