Designing Tomorrow’s Labs Today: The Role of AI and VDC in Modern Life Sciences Facilities
The 50 + 60 Binney Street project in Cambridge, MA, utilized SGA’s Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) process to coordinate complex building systems. This method resulted in zero RFIs, 90 percent first-pass submittal approvals, and on-schedule delivery. Image: Courtesy of SGA
Life sciences facilities have undergone a remarkable evolution in recent years. Once designed primarily for functionality and throughput, today’s labs must also support flexibility, collaboration, sustainability, and a positive user experience. These shifting demands drive the adoption of advanced technologies that streamline design and construction processes while future-proofing facility performance.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) are transformative tools among these technologies. From accelerating design decisions to minimizing energy consumption and reducing construction timelines, AI and VDC are reshaping how we create the labs of tomorrow.
The role of AI in designing futuristic life sciences facilities
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a foundational tool in the design of complex, data-intensive environments like life sciences facilities. Its power lies in the ability to analyze massive datasets in real time, driving smarter design decisions, optimizing operations, and supporting the unique needs of research and production labs.
AI-powered predictive analytics enables design teams to model lab layouts, anticipating future needs. This capability is particularly critical in life sciences, where research directions and space requirements can shift rapidly. AI tools can simulate different scenarios for equipment placement, airflow dynamics, and personnel movement, ultimately informing flexible layouts that adapt over time.
In parallel, generative design algorithms are helping architects and engineers explore a wider range of design options by setting performance-based parameters for safety, energy efficiency, and compliance. AI-enhanced HVAC systems, for example, can continuously learn from occupancy patterns and environmental data, fine-tuning airflow and temperature settings to reduce energy waste without compromising comfort or safety.
AI-enabled visualization tools and digital twins provide immersive, real-time views of facilities during design and construction, accelerating decision making. These technologies, coupled with safety and compliance monitoring systems, help ensure that new facilities meet stringent industry requirements from day one. The result is a smarter, safer, and more sustainable lab environment equipped for the dynamic nature of scientific discovery.
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC): A game-changer in modern facility design
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) offers a streamlined, collaborative approach to manage that complexity as building complexity increases, particularly in life sciences and hybrid lab-office spaces. By leveraging 3D modeling and data integration tools early in the design process, project teams can anticipate challenges, align stakeholder expectations, and reduce downstream inefficiencies that often drive up cost and schedule.
A clear example of this approach in action is the 50 + 60 Binney Street development in Cambridge, MA. The project comprises two 10-story hybrid laboratory-office buildings totaling 900,000 square feet, serving as the entrance to a significant life sciences campus in Kendall Square.
The design team used a co-location office adjacent to the site to centralize collaboration among architects, the construction manager, and subcontractors. The entire team participated in virtual modeling of the building’s systems, with each principal component detailed down to individual equipment and tagged with QR codes linking to maintenance and warranty information. This level of integration helped reduce uncertainty and avoid costly mid-project revisions.
The results reflect the efficiency of the process:
100 percent of the project was completed on schedule
90 percent of submittals were approved on the first submission
85 percent reduction in change orders
Zero RFIs issued during the core and shell phase
The buildings were constructed using an “up-down” technique—building upward before excavating the six below-grade parking levels—enabling earlier occupancy for tenants. Adjacent to the Charles River, the site required advanced slurry wall construction methods to support excavation.
From an operational standpoint, the project was designed for long-term flexibility, with centralized mechanical cores, high ceilings, and high-performance envelope systems. It also achieved LEED Gold certification and includes cogeneration technology, LED lighting, and accommodations for electric vehicles and cyclists.
By delivering a highly coordinated model and using it to support construction and post-occupancy building operations, the project underscores how VDC can enhance delivery and long-term building performance in complex, tech-forward environments.
Advanced project management tools: enhancing transparency and collaboration
Behind the scenes of any successful lab project is a robust project management platform. As life sciences facilities become more complex, coordinating stakeholders, schedules, and systems requires more than spreadsheets and emails. Advanced platforms provide a centralized hub for real-time updates, issue tracking, and cross-functional collaboration.
Modern tools now offer dashboards tailored to the unique lab design and construction needs, providing visibility into every stage of the process. These systems support schedule adherence, budget tracking, and risk mitigation while improving responsiveness across distributed teams.
At SGA, for instance, the project dashboard enables stakeholders to visualize design progress, monitor milestones, and flag potential risks before they escalate. The transparency afforded by such tools reduces the likelihood of delays, fosters accountability, and ensures smoother execution from design through commissioning.
Sustainability in life sciences facility design
Sustainability is no longer optional in life sciences design—it’s a necessity. These facilities are energy-intensive by nature, often requiring specialized ventilation, refrigeration, and lighting systems that push conventional energy use to its limits. The integration of AI and VDC is helping design teams rise to the challenge.
AI’s contribution to sustainability lies in its ability to analyze and optimize building operations in real time. From adjusting HVAC loads to balancing energy consumption across systems, AI enables smarter, more responsive energy use. When paired with building automation systems, these insights support long-term energy savings and a lower environmental footprint.
Meanwhile, VDC contributes by improving material planning, reducing construction waste, and enabling precision in resource allocation. Design simulations and constructability reviews minimize errors and rework, which in turn reduces time and the use of excess materials.
Together, these technologies offer a roadmap for creating sustainable lab environments that support the mission of science without compromising planetary health.
Conclusion
The convergence of AI and VDC represents a mighty leap forward in how we conceive, design, and deliver life sciences facilities. These technologies are not just improving efficiency and reducing costs—they’re enabling the creation of adaptable, resilient spaces aligned with the evolving demands of science and sustainability.
For lab managers, researchers, and facility decision-makers, embracing these tools offers a strategic advantage. As the life sciences industry continues to expand and innovate, the facilities that support it must keep pace. By adopting advanced technologies like AI and VDC, today’s labs can meet tomorrow’s challenges—and lead the way in building a more intelligent and sustainable future for science.
Discover how AI, BIM, and other advanced digital technologies are shaping the future of lab design at our free Innovations in Design Tools Digital Summit, happening July 29! The event’s webinars are available to watch live or on demand—don’t miss this opportunity to earn AIA credits while exploring the latest in lab design innovation. Register here!
