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User Input, Real Impact: Simulation Lab Recognized with Special Mention—User Engagement
At WashU School of Medicine, the Multidisciplinary Surgical Simulation Lab demonstrates how intensive user engagement and iterative mockups shaped a highly flexible, ergonomic training space that earned Special Mention for User Engagement in the 2026 Design Excellence Awards
Integrating Diagnostics and Genetics Through Laboratory Design
Dynacare’s new precision medicine laboratory in Laval’s Biotech City consolidates diagnostic and genetics operations into a user-centered, highly integrated facility that enhances collaboration, streamlines workflows, maintains service continuity during transition, and advances efficient, patient-focused care
A New Standard for Anatomy Education in Northern Canada
The new Northwestern Polytechnic anatomy lab is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility that integrates pedagogy-driven design, specialized equipment, and carefully coordinated construction to expand access to high-quality, cadaver-based medical education in northern Canada
Point-of-Use Inventory: Eliminating the Central Stockroom
By transitioning from massive centralized supply rooms to decentralized point of use storage, laboratory architects can drastically reduce inventory hoarding, minimize transit time, and ensure scientists always have the exact materials needed right at the bench.
The Spaghetti Diagram: Mapping Waste in Layouts
By mapping the physical circulation of scientists through a facility, architects can identify severe adjacency failures, minimize unnecessary transit, and optimize casework placement to support high-efficiency scientific workflows.
Ergonomics for Coding: Lighting & Acoustics in the Hybrid Lab
Bioinformaticians are coders, not chemists. Stop putting them on stools under fluorescent lights.
Science for Everyone: Moving Beyond ADA in Lab Design
Achieving true inclusivity in lab environments means going beyond ADA compliance to consider the full spectrum of human abilities—both visible and invisible—by integrating accessibility into the design process from the outset, with empathy guiding decisions rather than just code requirements
Optimizing Pharma QC Lab Layouts for Enhanced Analytical Efficiency
Discover how to design pharmaceutical quality control (QC) labs to maximize analytical efficiency, safety, and workflow with real-world case studies and layout strategies.
Webinar Review: Lab Ergonomics and Human Factored Design
The webinar "Introduction to Lab Ergonomics and Human Factored Design," part of Lab Design News' Facilities Management Webinar Series, highlighted the critical role of user-centered design in laboratory environments, addressing ergonomics, inclusivity, and the balance between durability and comfort to optimize safety, productivity, and researcher well-being
Designing Labs for Neurodiversity: Unlocking Innovation Through Inclusivity
Designing laboratory spaces to accommodate neurodiversity fosters innovation and inclusivity by integrating adaptable layouts, sensory-friendly elements, and personalized workstations to reduce stress, enhance productivity, and support the diverse needs of neurodivergent researchers