Recap of the 2025 Lab Design Conference in Denver
Lab Design Conference attendees participated in a welcome reception on Sunday evening.
The 24th annual Lab Design Conference in Denver brought together professionals from across the laboratory design and renovation sectors for an in-depth exploration of the latest innovations and best practices in creating safe, efficient, and sustainable lab environments. Attendees included architects, engineers, lab planners, and facility managers who engaged in thought-provoking sessions covering cutting-edge technologies, advanced safety protocols, and emerging sustainability strategies. The event fostered valuable networking opportunities and dynamic discussions, enabling participants to share insights, address common challenges, and collaborate on solutions that push the boundaries of modern laboratory design. Additionally, the conference featured interactive workshops, expert-led educational sessions, and guided tours of local state-of-the-art laboratories, providing firsthand experiences that enriched the learning and inspired future projects.
Workshops and educational sessions
The event kicked off on Sunday, May 11 with hands-on workshops focused on safety in lab design and fume hood validation. The agenda continued on Monday, May 12 with educational sessions covering human-centered design, automation, lighting strategies, carbon neutrality, adaptive reuse, and sustainable materials. Experts shared real-world case studies and collaborative planning tools to address current challenges such as rising construction costs, regulatory compliance, and evolving research needs. Attendees also explored new technologies in the exhibit hall and networked during evening receptions, fostering connections and knowledge exchange across the industry.
Click here for information on the workshops and first day of educational sessions.
Design Excellence Awards winners honored
Joe Popp accepted Perkins&Will’s award for Excellence in Whole Building/Holistic Design—Renovated, and gave a short presentation on the National Institutes of Health Building 10, Renovation of the E-Wing project.
The sixth annual Design Excellence Awards, presented at the Lab Design Conference on May 12, recognized outstanding achievements in lab design across multiple categories, with five winners presenting their projects and one honorable mention also recognized.
Click here for information about the 2025 Design Excellence Awards.
Second day of educational sessions
The second day of Lab Design Conference educational sessions showcased a wide range of innovative strategies and practical solutions shaping the future of laboratory design. Sessions emphasized adaptive reuse, modular construction, user-centered design, and energy efficiency, offering real-world case studies and expert insights from leading architecture, engineering, and research professionals. Presentations addressed challenges such as vibration control, accessibility for non-visible disabilities, robotics integration, resilience to climate-related disruptions, and the use of renewable energy in high-performance lab facilities.
Attendees toured the exhibit hall and spoke with leading lab design/build exhibitors about their latest projects.
Attendees gained a deeper understanding of how to balance safety, sustainability, and flexibility in lab environments—whether through retrofitting existing buildings or designing new, future-ready spaces—and were encouraged to embrace interdisciplinary collaboration, inclusive design, and advanced technologies to support evolving research needs. Sessions were available for AIA continuing education credit, with some sessions also qualifying for HSW credit.
Click here for information about the second day of educational sessions.
Exhibit hall
Exhibitors at the Lab Design Conference were on hand to engage with attendees, showcasing the latest technologies and products while discussing how their solutions can support various lab projects. This provided a valuable opportunity for participants to connect directly with industry experts and explore innovations relevant to laboratory planning, design, and operation.
Lab tours
As the 2025 Lab Design Conference concluded on May 14, attendees enjoyed guided tours of cutting-edge laboratory facilities across the Denver area, gaining firsthand insight into innovative design and operational features. Morning tours offered a choice between two leading sites: Colorado School of Mines, showcasing its energy-focused Marquez Hall and the collaborative CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering, and the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Health Sciences Building, a sustainable, interdisciplinary medical research hub inspired by Colorado’s natural landscape.
The 25th annual Lab Design Conference will be held on May 11-14, 2026 in Orlando, FL.
The afternoon tour visited Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Aerospace & Engineering Sciences Building, highlighting hands-on, industry-linked learning in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, featuring collaborative spaces and a focus on public-private partnership. These tours deepened attendees’ understanding of how thoughtful lab design supports modern research, education, and workforce development.
Click here for information about the lab tours.
2026 Lab Design Conference location revealed
Attendees of the 2025 Lab Design Conference were excited to learn that the 25th annual Lab Design Conference will be held May 11–14, 2026, at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Florida.
The upcoming event will feature tours of Orlando-area laboratories, along with a full schedule of educational sessions, exhibitors, and optional workshops and lab tours. Those interested in exhibiting or speaking at the 2026 event can visit the conference website for more information. We also welcome suggestions for Orlando-area labs that should be considered for a tour.
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