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Advocacy to Action: Science Building Breaks Ground
Massasoit Community College has broken ground on a $52 million, sustainability-driven renovation of its STEM facilities—achieved through strategic advocacy and reframing efforts that secured state funding and set a model for cost-effective, mission-aligned campus transformation
USDA Announces Closure of Key Agricultural Research Center; Future Plans Remain Unclear
The USDA’s plan to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland has raised concerns among lawmakers, researchers, and farm groups, who warn that shuttering the facility could disrupt critical agricultural research and leaves the future of its laboratories, equipment, and infrastructure uncertain
Webinar Review: Strategies to Keep Lab Projects Moving Forward Amid Funding Uncertainties
Lab Design’s webinar panel on shifting federal funding provides insights on navigating uncertainty, highlighting flexible design strategies, alternative funding options, and actionable steps institutions can use to keep lab projects on track
Faced with NIH Funding Cuts, Universities Look to Reduce Research Facility Costs
Optimizing lab ventilation offers universities a high-impact strategy to lower energy use, meet carbon regulations, and improve research environments without the need for new construction
Designing for Uncertainty: How Lab Facilities Can Stay Resilient Amid Shifting Priorities
2025 Lab Design Conference keynote speaker Jim Blount urged attendees to embrace flexibility and data-driven strategies as essential tools for navigating the challenges of shifting research priorities, funding uncertainty, and rising construction costs
Proposed NOAA Lab Closures Raise Critical Questions about Research Facilities
The proposed NOAA budget would shut down key physical research laboratories across the country, leaving the future of their specialized buildings, equipment, and ongoing infrastructure upgrades uncertain
Making the Case: How Labs Can Advocate for Upgrades and Expansion
Sedgwick County’s Forensic Science Center illustrates the power of aligning lab needs with public impact
UNC Pauses $228M Research Facility Amid Federal Funding Uncertainty
UNC-Chapel Hill has paused construction of its $228 million Translational Research Building due to growing uncertainty over federal funding, including the loss of 104 research grants and proposed cuts to indirect cost recovery that threaten its primary financing strategy
Time is Money: Fast-Tracking Science & Technology Projects Through Design-Build
The design-build approach is emerging as the preferred method for delivering science and technology facilities quickly and efficiently, enabling faster time-to-market through integrated planning, concurrent workflows, and early collaboration—without compromising quality, safety, or performance
How Small Lab and Procurement Teams Can Drive Big Sustainability Wins
Small lab and procurement teams can drive significant sustainability improvements by influencing vendor selection, designing for equipment lifecycles, integrating waste reduction strategies, and embedding sustainable practices into lab operations and workflows