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The AI-Driven Shift in Lab Design
AI is transforming research so rapidly that laboratories must evolve into flexible, digitally integrated, and automation-ready ecosystems—designed as dynamic platforms for both current and future technologies—where adaptability, smart infrastructure, and cross-sector best practices are the new gold standard for accelerating discovery at “machine speed”
Designing for the New “Live, Work, Play, Healthcare” Era
Healthcare real estate is shifting toward multi-use developments that blend clinical and laboratory facilities with housing, retail, and wellness amenities, and the Medical Pavilion I & II at National Harbor exemplifies how early planning, flexible infrastructure, and sensitive site design can enable labs to function effectively within dense, amenity-rich environments while coexisting comfortably with diverse neighboring uses
From Old to High-Performing: Navigating the Complexities of Breathing New Life into Existing Buildings
Outdated buildings—including a federal lab and a former big-box store—can be successfully transformed into high-performing, flexible laboratory spaces by leveraging early feasibility studies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and design strategies focused on sustainability, adaptability, and occupant well-being
Innovation and Creativity in Modern Lab Design—A Perspective from Experience
Designing labs that fuel innovation takes more than vision—it requires purpose-driven design, creative freedom, and operational foresight, and this insider perspective reveals how today’s most forward-thinking teams are transforming labs into strategic assets that inspire discovery and adapt to what’s next
Modernizing a Mid-Century Lab for 21st Century Research
The renovation of the University of Georgia’s Cedar Street Building C demonstrates how aging research facilities can be transformed into modern, flexible, and sustainable lab environments while honoring their historic character
How to Build Flexible and Collaborative Laboratories
Project teams and lab management can benefit from designing shared labs that prioritize real-world workflows, flexible infrastructure, clear communication, and thoughtful operational planning—ensuring spaces that adapt to diverse users, streamline collaboration, and support evolving research needs for greater efficiency and long-term success
Grow Without Building: Labs Embrace Smarter, Scalable Upgrades
The U.S. life sciences real estate sector is shifting from expansion to optimization, as companies respond to slowed leasing and rising biomanufacturing demand by investing in low-cost upgrades and smarter space utilization rather than new construction, all while preparing for future flexibility and scalability
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
What Crime Labs Need Now—and Tomorrow: Insights from Arkansas’ New Facility
The design and construction of the new Arkansas State Crime Laboratory highlight the importance of early user engagement, flexible infrastructure, and careful planning to meet evolving forensic science needs and operational workflows
Designing for Impact: How Kansas’ New Lab Advances Testing, Safety, and Workforce Retention
Kansas’ new $72 million public health laboratory, designed in collaboration with staff and built to replace a failing 1950s-era facility, dramatically improves testing efficiency, safety, and workforce retention through flexible lab design, shared instrumentation, modern amenities, and dedicated spaces for training, collaboration, and community engagement