Tips and Topic Ideas for Speaking at the Lab Design Conference
The Lab Design Conference is seeking speakers who know the ins and outs of laboratory environments—especially the people who use them every day. If you're a lab manager, scientist, or operations lead who's been involved in a renovation, new build, or day-to-day facility planning, your perspective is invaluable.
Join us in Orlando on May 11-14, 2026. This year’s program will highlight real-world experience from project team members and lab end users across a range of session tracks—from lessons learned during construction to sustainability strategies, and from component-level insights to big-picture adaptability. Whether you’ve recently moved into a new space or weathered a challenging upgrade, or worked on a lab project where you had to pivot to a new plan, your story can help inform and inspire the next generation of lab design.
The Lab Design Conference brings together professionals involved in every aspect of lab facility planning, construction, renovation, and operation—including architects, engineers, lab planners, builders, equipment providers, and the scientists and managers who bring these spaces to life. The program features a mix of introductory and advanced sessions, and all presentations must be strictly non-commercial.
We’re not just looking for polished success stories—we want to hear what really happened. The most valuable sessions give attendees an honest, behind-the-scenes look at lab projects: the lessons learned, the surprises, the tough decisions, and the practical solutions. Our goal is to help the audience better understand what goes into making a lab successful—from early planning through occupancy—so they can apply those insights to their own projects. Presentations should offer actionable takeaways, encourage engagement, and serve as useful reference points for lab professionals navigating similar challenges.
We are especially interested in presentations that include a lab end user—such as a scientist, lab manager, or operations lead—as a speaker or co-presenter to provide firsthand insights. We also encourage session proposals that meet the criteria for AIA Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) continuing education credit, offering clear value in promoting safe, functional, and well-designed lab environments.
Speaking proposals can be submitted until August 8, 2025. Here are some ideas of what we’re looking for:
Renovating an existing space, expansions, adaptive reuse
Share your experience planning or working through a renovation or lab expansion.
Discuss how your team maintained operations during construction.
Talk about lessons learned converting a non-lab space into a functional research environment.
Review the discussions and data that led to a renovation vs. a new build.
Highlight infrastructure or utility limitations that influenced your renovation choices.
New builds
Reflect on your experience as an end user involved in planning a new lab, securing funding, and collecting design input from your staff.
Share insights on how your needs were incorporated (or overlooked) during design.
Discuss how the lab performs now compared to your expectations.
Describe your level of knowledge about lab design before starting your project and how you acquired the information necessary to move forward.
Provide guidance for lab end users embarking on their first new build project, as well as insights for project teams on effectively collaborating with end users of varying experience levels.
Sustainable lab design
Talk about sustainability features that have (or haven’t) worked well in the lab.
Share how your lab project integrates energy-saving practices or green certifications.
Discuss the user perspective on balancing performance needs with sustainability goals.
Describe your role in implementing a green lab program, sourcing/advocating for sustainable building materials, or improving operational efficiency.
Working with end users
Share your experience collaborating between design teams, architects, and end users.
Talk about how you communicated the lab’s workflows and technical needs.
Reflect on how end user input shaped the outcome of a renovation or new build.
Offer tips for productive engagement between lab users and project teams.
Lab components—flooring, lighting, casework, etc.
Share practical experience with specific lab components—what worked well, what didn’t.
Talk about how lighting, furniture, or flooring choices have impacted lab work.
Discuss your involvement in choosing or testing materials and furnishings.
Reflect on maintenance, durability, or ergonomic issues that emerged post-occupancy.
Offer advice on selecting the right vendors and materials for the job.
Lessons learned/cautionary tales
Share what you wish you’d known before starting a lab project.
Talk about unexpected problems and how your team responded.
Reflect on how early decisions (good or bad) affected long-term lab performance.
Discuss strategies you used to keep a project on track or recover from setbacks.
People-centric design/design essentials
Share your perspective on how your lab project supports collaboration, comfort, and productivity.
Talk about how bench space, interaction zones, or office space are actually used.
Discuss how design influenced team dynamics, workflow, or sense of belonging.
Reflect on what makes a lab feel functional and supportive for the people in it.
User’s perspective on a project
Share your personal experience as a lab user during a design or construction project.
Discuss how your project team managed user expectations throughout the build.
Reflect on what resources or support helped you navigate the project.
Offer guidance for scientists or lab managers stepping into a design role for the first time.
Unexpected challenges, flexibility, and adaptability
Talk about how your lab project adapted to major unexpected changes (funding, leadership, relocation).
Share how your team remained flexible during uncertain or shifting project phases.
Reflect on what systems or planning helped you stay resilient.
Discuss how you approached trade-offs when timelines or resources changed mid-project.
Ready to share your proposal? Visit the Lab Design Conference website and fill out the form.
Questions? Email mdidonna@labdesignconference.com.
We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!
