Lab Design Conference Kicks Off in Denver

Chris Giglio, Environmental Health Services, Chemical Management Officer at Colorado State University, led a workshop on "Building Safe Spaces: Integrating Hazardous Material Considerations in Lab Design."

The Lab Design Conference opened its 24th annual event in Denver, CO with a robust lineup of programming. The 2025 conference began with two interactive workshops on Sunday, May 11, and continued with a full day of educational sessions on Monday, May 12.

Attendees explored key topics shaping the future of lab environments—including safety, sustainability, automation, and design—through the exclusive workshops, expert-led educational sessions, and valuable networking opportunities and social gatherings.

The conference also featured an exhibitor hall showcasing the latest innovations in lab planning and technology, with experts available to discuss the needs of the lab with attendees.

Evening networking receptions on both Sunday and Monday fostered collaboration and community among industry professionals.

Exclusive lab safety workshops

Sunday’s workshops focused on integrating safety into lab design—particularly when handling hazardous materials and evaluating fume hood performance.

A workshop on “Validating Fume Hood Safety and Mitigating Risk” was facilitated by Chip Albright, Founder and President of Fume Hood Certified.

Chris Giglio, Environmental Health Services, Chemical Management Officer at Colorado State University, led a workshop on “Building Safe Spaces,” which explored effective planning for hazardous materials during lab construction and renovation. Participants gained insight into identifying risks, implementing chemical-resistant and ventilated systems, and ensuring compliant waste disposal. Real-world case studies emphasized how collaboration among architects, engineers, and lab users results in safer, more functional facilities. The session offered a practical framework for meeting regulatory requirements while protecting personnel and the environment.

A concurrent workshop, “Validating Fume Hood Safety and Mitigating Risk,” was led by Chip Albright, Founder and President of Fume Hood Certified. Attendees learned how to validate fume hood performance, reduce health and operational risks, and integrate energy-efficient systems without sacrificing safety. The session highlighted early-stage planning strategies that align containment performance with sustainability goals. Both workshops were designed for lab planners, architects, engineers, and EH&S professionals seeking to apply best practices in safe, efficient lab design.

All conference attendees were welcomed to a networking reception after the workshops concluded, where they got the chance to mingle with their peers and discuss the next day’s educational agenda.

Opening keynote and Design Excellence Awards

Opening keynote speaker Jim Blount of Ellenzweig talked about recent challenges and hurdles in lab design and scientific research.

The conference’s opening keynote session, How to Prepare for an Uncertain Future, addressed how laboratories can adapt to changing research priorities, supply chain instability, and rising construction costs.

The keynote was delivered by Jim Blount of Ellenzweig, who focused on the need for resilience, agility, and forward-thinking planning in today’s rapidly evolving research landscape. Jim highlighted experiences with his own clients as well as data from different institutions to paint a picture of the current life sciences design/build landscape and its effect on scientific research and recruitment.

The 2025 Design Excellence Awards winners were then announced publicly for the first time, with the winning teams accepting their awards and sharing insights into their successful projects. Click here for the list of winners—feature articles will soon appear on labdesignnews.com.

Morning educational sessions

Isabel Mandujano of LPA Design Studios discussed the power of human-centered design to enhance researcher well-being, comfort, and performance.

Following the Design Excellence Awards ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to select from three concurrent breakout sessions each hour. All sessions are available for AIA continuing education credit and some are also available for HSW (health, safety, welfare) credit, giving attendees the opportunity to fulfill much of their yearly licensure requirements at a single event.

In Wait, This Isn’t What We Asked For, Dwayne Henry, a lab manager from Montgomery College, shared lessons learned from the Leggett Science Building project. His session examined communication breakdowns and unexpected design challenges from the user’s point of view. Dwayne offered actionable strategies for improving stakeholder engagement throughout design, construction, and post-occupancy phases to boost satisfaction and long-term functionality.

The Future of Labs—Designing for Automation featured Yvonne Choe from DIALOG, who shared insights on creating infrastructure that accommodates emerging automation and AI technologies. Attendees learned how automation-ready labs can support evolving workflows, improve safety, and enable future adaptability.

Isabel Mandujano of LPA Design Studios delivered The Human-Centric Laboratory, which explored how design can enhance researcher well-being and performance. Using five pillars—multisensory design, equity and inclusion, biophilia, technology, and sustainability—the session presented a case study focused on creating inspiring, health-conscious lab environments that center the human experience alongside high performance.

Tak Wing Louie of HOK talked about the unique challenges of renovating a medical facility in New York City.

Colin Conroy and Shannon Kaplan of WSP addressed the impact of thoughtful lighting design on safety, comfort, and accuracy in lab work in their session Beyond Illumination: Enhancing Laboratories through Thoughtful Lighting Design. The speakers emphasized lighting as a tool for achieving both performance and sustainability goals by incorporating natural light, energy-efficient fixtures, and smart controls.

In Designing Towards Absolute Zero Carbon Labs, presenters Kristen DiStefano of Atelier Ten and Ryan Velasco of ZGF explored ambitious strategies for achieving carbon-neutral lab environments, including all-electric systems, adaptive reuse, and carbon-sequestering materials. Case studies illustrated how labs can reduce emissions without compromising function, especially when supported by interdisciplinary collaboration.

Tak Wing Louie’s talk on Adaptive Reuse: The Path of the Transformation of Existing Nurse Residence Building to Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health showcased a major adaptive reuse effort: the transformation of a 60-year-old nurse residence into the Mount Sinai Center for AI and Human Health. This presentation discussed challenges in upgrading legacy infrastructure for advanced research while prioritizing acoustic comfort and sustainability.

Afternoon educational sessions

Ellen Spell and Megan Coffland of BNBuilders explained the concept of choosing by advantages in order to evaluate design priorities.

Following a networking lunch in the exhibit hall, attendees were once again invited to choose between three concurrent breakout sessions geared toward specific aspects of lab design, construction, and renovation.

A panel discussion on Transforming 100,000 SF of Retail into a LEED-Certified Lab spotlighted the conversion of a former retail mall into a LEED-certified genomic testing lab. Hanbury’s Lauren Eaton and David Cole, along with David Hookway of McGough Construction, demonstrated how flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability can be achieved even during active construction.

Shepley Bulfinch’s Jeffrey Bottomley and Luke Voiland joined Dr. Lamar Pritchard of the University of Houston’s College of Pharmacy to discuss the evolving role of pharmacy in interdisciplinary research. The Role of Pharmacy within a Broader Interdisciplinary Research Environment detailed how lab design facilitates collaboration across medicine, chemistry, and data science to foster innovative discoveries.

Ellen Spell and Megan Coffland of BNBuilders introduced The ABCs of CBA: Choosing By Advantages for Lab Design, which helps stakeholders evaluate competing design priorities. A case study illustrated how CBA can clarify trade-offs and lead to more value-driven, collaborative lab planning outcomes.

Erlab’s Tim Campbell discussed the benefits of ductless fume hoods.

Larry Wright of Leo A Daly’s session, Creating the Future from the Past—An Environmental Study on the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute (AFRRI), highlighted the renovation of the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute (AFRRI). This LEED V4 Silver-certified project demonstrated how reusing mid-century modern buildings can reduce carbon footprints while meeting modern sustainability goals.

In Measuring for Scientific Impact: Metrics that Impact Laboratory Design, CannonDesign’s Regal Leftwich reviewed how to establish key metrics for lab design, covering benchmarking, budget, and long-term research outcomes. This session emphasized the importance of evaluating design decisions using peer institution data.

Tim Campbell of Erlab, Inc. offered attendees a thorough overview of ductless filtering fume hoods in his presentation, Safe Sustainable Design: How Ductless Filtering Fume Hoods Help Labs Reach Their Sustainability Goals. Tim’s session showed how these energy-efficient solutions can protect lab personnel while reducing environmental footprints.

Trespa’s Christelle Locat-Rainville explained the importance of selecting sustainable lab materials with long lifespans.

Trespa’s Christelle Locat-Rainville presented Sustainability: A Non-Negotiable Priority, stressing the importance of sustainable lab materials with low carbon footprints, bio-based content, and long lifespans. Christelle emphasized transparent reporting, third-party verification, and reuse strategies to help labs create more sustainable, low-emission environments.

Alternate Models for Bioscience Research Facilities: A Case for Urban Integration was delivered by Eddie Hall of MBH Architects, who explored the benefits and challenges of integrating bioscience research facilities into urban environments, focusing on collaboration, economic incentives like infill and adaptive reuse, and environmental advantages such as reduced transportation impacts and improved energy efficiency, while addressing urban design complexities.

Danielle Benford and Chris Orlando of VOC Associates discussed strategies and pain points for relocating labs to new environments.

Blythe Vogt and Holly Lattin of Affiliated Engineers, Inc. offered a session on An Engineer's Approach to an Integrated and Innovative Research Institute, showcasing a flexible, mass timber building targeting LEED Silver certification with a modular design and sustainable building systems.

Key Takeaways from Relocating Complex Lab Projects, delivered by Danielle Benford and Chris Orlando of VOC Associates, highlighted the importance of involving transition and activation project managers from the design phase to address potential gaps, offering real-world scenarios and insights to help architects, engineers, and lab managers avoid design mistakes and improve lab efficiency, safety, and workflow.

The day concluded with a networking reception in the exhibitor hall, where attendees got the chance to socialize and mingle while chatting with industry leaders about the latest technology and strategies in the lab design field.