Lab Design Conference Concludes with Local Lab Tours
Colorado School of Mines
As part of the 2025 Lab Design Conference, attendees had the unique opportunity to participate in guided tours of leading laboratory facilities across the Denver area. These behind-the-scenes visits offered an in-depth look at state-of-the-art research environments and provided valuable face time with the architects, lab planners, and campus representatives responsible for bringing them to life. From understanding the design intent and construction challenges to exploring how lab layouts support cutting-edge science, the tours fostered dynamic conversations and firsthand learning that complemented the conference’s broader focus on innovation in lab design.
Tour participants had the opportunity to explore laboratories and common areas while asking questions about key features like casework, lighting, fixtures, and construction challenges. Several labs were actively in use by students and staff, giving attendees a firsthand look at “science on display” and the lab in operation.
Morning tour attendees were able to choose between two options. Attendees touring the Colorado School of Mines explored two key facilities that exemplify the university’s evolving approach to scientific research and education. Marquez Hall, home to the Petroleum Engineering Department, reflects the School of Mines’ commitment to both energy innovation and architectural integration with its L-shaped layout and interactive public spaces. Designed to support a shift toward renewable energy research, the building features simulation labs, classrooms, and offices behind sleek glass curtain walls and a dramatic cantilevered roof.
University of Colorado, Anschutz Health Sciences Building
Just steps away, the CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration with flexible lab spaces and active learning environments. Its striking 250-foot glazed façade connects interior research activities with the surrounding campus, while its interior organization supports both private investigation and public engagement. Together, these two buildings offered Lab Design Conference attendees a compelling look at how Mines is bridging traditional disciplines to shape the future of applied science and engineering.
Morning tour participants could instead opt to visit the University of Colorado, Anschutz Health Sciences Building, a seven-story interdisciplinary facility that anchors the university’s mission to lead in medical education, research, and clinical care. This architecturally striking structure houses spaces dedicated to computational science, medical simulation, clinical trials, and behavioral health, all thoughtfully arranged to encourage collaboration and flexibility. The building’s form draws inspiration from the Rocky Mountains, combining glass and metal elements that echo Colorado’s natural environment. Sustainability is embedded into its core, with features such as daylighting, biophilic design, and a heat recovery system that reduces energy use by 60 percent. The light-filled atrium acts as the heart of the building, seamlessly connecting people and programs across disciplines, and offering Lab Design Conference attendees a firsthand look at how architecture can promote innovation, wellness, and efficiency in modern health sciences.
Aerospace & Engineering Sciences Building at Metropolitan State University of Denver
The afternoon tour took attendees to the Aerospace & Engineering Sciences Building at Metropolitan State University of Denver, a dynamic facility that bridges academia and industry to support Colorado’s aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Designed to serve a diverse student body at the state’s only public, four-year access institution, the building emphasizes hands-on, interdisciplinary learning across fields such as industrial design, robotics, computer science, and space operations. Its lower floors feature collaborative classrooms and labs focused on skill-building and team projects, while Level 1 is home to the Advanced Manufacturing Hub—a space where students take ideas from digital models through to physical prototypes and finished products.
The top floor houses tenant-leased offices, fostering direct engagement between students and industry leaders. With a transparent façade that opens views into lab spaces from the city side and a community-facing porch and showcase lab on the campus side, the building exemplifies public-private collaboration. Recognized with an Honorable Mention for Excellence in Sustainability in Lab Design's 2020 Design Excellence Awards, it stands as a model for inclusive, future-focused lab and workforce development.
Tours of Orlando-area labs will be offered at the 2026 Lab Design Conference in Florida. Sign up here for updates on conference’s educational sessions, exhibitors, and optional features such as lab tours and workshops.
