Share Your Lab Design Journey at the 2026 Lab Design Conference
Have you led a lab renovation, new build, or expansion project and come out the other side with lessons to share? Did a project take a sharp turn you didn’t anticipate—or did your foresight prevent a major setback? If you’ve ever thought, “I wish someone had told me this before we started,” now’s your chance to pass that insight along.
Lab Design is now accepting speaker proposals for the 2026 Lab Design Conference, taking place May 11–14 in Orlando, Florida. This premier event brings together architects, lab planners, engineers, builders, lab furniture and equipment providers—and crucially, lab end users—to explore cutting-edge strategies in lab design, renovation, and optimization.
We’re especially looking for lab managers, bench scientists, facility owners, and end users to share what it’s really like to plan, build, or upgrade a laboratory. Your experience can help others avoid common pitfalls, navigate uncertainty, and design more functional, sustainable spaces.
Proposals are due by August 8, 2025.
What we’re looking for
We’re seeking engaging, real-world presentations—non-commercial, practical, and story-driven—that offer both high-level insights and tangible takeaways. Key areas of interest include:
Renovating, expanding, or adapting existing spaces: Tips for choosing renovation over new construction, expanding a facility without disrupting research, or preserving a building’s history through adaptive reuse.
New lab construction: How to justify a new build in a tight financial climate, design for future adaptability, and evaluate long-term building lifespan.
Sustainable lab design: Energy-saving strategies, making the business case for sustainable materials and equipment, and balancing quality, cost, and availability in your procurement decisions.
Working with end users and clients: Managing expectations, leading effective kickoff meetings, keeping communication flowing, and handling challenging dynamics between users and project teams.
Designing and selecting key components (such as lighting, flooring, casework): How to find/hire vendors, pick the right materials, navigate supply chain issues, and stay within budget without sacrificing quality or sustainability.
Lessons learned and crisis management: Share cautionary tales, things you wish you’d known, or how you successfully handled unexpected events—whether it was a misstep you could’ve prevented or a crisis you navigated gracefully.
People-centric lab design: Best practices for ergonomic, accessible labs; balancing interaction vs. bench space; designing for younger generations; and ensuring labs support the people who use them.
The user’s perspective: How you built a budget for your new build or renovation, selected vendors, moved your staff into a new lab, gathered and managed user input, or overcame moments of chaos and confusion.
Unexpected challenges and adaptability: How you responded to unpredictable events—like budget cuts, leadership changes, relocations, or vendor delays—and stayed resilient when things went off-script.
Why speak?
Speaking at the 2026 Lab Design Conference offers more than just a podium—it’s an opportunity to:
Influence the next generation of lab design
Elevate your visibility in the field
Connect with peers and partners facing similar challenges
Contribute to a community committed to creating better lab environments
We welcome all formats, including solo talks, panels, case studies, and interactive sessions. AIA-approved HSW content is strongly encouraged.
Ready to share your story? Submit your proposal by August 8, 2025, and help shape the conversations at the heart of today’s lab design challenges.
We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!