Get in the Room with Your Next Client at the Lab Design Conference

At the 2026 Lab Design Conference, taking place May 11-14 in Orlando, FL, one of the most valuable aspects for architects, engineers, lab planners, project team members, and suppliers isn’t just the educational programming—it’s the people in the room. This conference brings together a strong contingent of laboratory end users who are actively planning, building, or renovating their facilities, alongside professionals from the design and construction community.

For project team members, this creates a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the individuals who ultimately occupy and operate the spaces they design. These conversations go beyond theory or secondhand assumptions. Lab end users will speak firsthand about the challenges they face daily, whether it’s inefficient workflows, space constraints, safety concerns, or evolving research needs. Hearing these perspectives directly helps design professionals better understand how their decisions impact real-world lab operations.

Equally important, interactions at the Lab Design Conference offer insight into how end users approach budgeting and project planning. Many are navigating complex funding environments, balancing immediate needs with long-term flexibility. By engaging in open dialogue, project teams can gain a clearer understanding of these constraints and position themselves as thoughtful partners who can guide clients through the design process with both creativity and practicality.

The setting also encourages more organic, meaningful connections than a typical business development environment. Instead of formal pitches or transactional meetings, conversations often unfold naturally—during sessions, networking breaks, or lunches. This allows project team members to build relationships based on mutual understanding and shared goals, rather than sales-driven interactions. For many attendees, these early connections can lay the groundwork for future collaborations.

The educational agenda will also feature lab end users sharing their firsthand experiences—from lessons learned and unexpected challenges to what they wish they had known before starting their projects. These candid discussions will touch on everything from navigating stakeholder communication to managing competing priorities, giving project teams valuable insight into the client perspective. For designers, architects, and builders, it’s an opportunity to better understand how to anticipate lab users’ needs, avoid common pitfalls, and foster stronger, more collaborative project relationships.

For anyone involved in designing lab environments, the Lab Design Conference offers a chance to not only make new connections, but also get honest, real-world feedback from the people who actually use these spaces every day—and use that insight to shape better projects moving forward. Get your ticket now!