Webinar Preview: How to Build a Sustainable Automated Lab
The pace of scientific discovery is accelerating, fueled by breakthroughs in lab automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence. These powerful technologies are streamlining workflows, reducing human error, and enabling research teams to achieve results faster than ever before. But as the science evolves, so too must the spaces where it happens. How do you design a laboratory that not only supports today’s automation needs but is also flexible, resilient, and sustainable enough to accommodate the unknowns of tomorrow?
On Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 1:00 pm ET, Lab Design will host a free webinar, “How to Build a Sustainable Automated Lab,” that explores this critical question. Whether you are a lab planner, architect, contractor, end user, or lab equipment vendor, this session offers actionable strategies and real-world insights into designing and constructing automation-ready facilities.
Why attend?
Over the past decade, the integration of robotics and AI into labs has transformed R&D in ways that were once unimaginable. But these advances bring a host of challenges to the design and construction of lab spaces:
Structural capacity must be increased to accommodate new equipment.
Power demands are rising dramatically.
Skill sets of staff are evolving, creating new training and workflow needs.
Sustainability goals are reshaping how projects are planned, built, and operated.
This webinar, part of Lab Design’s How to Build series, will provide a practical framework for addressing these challenges while keeping long-term flexibility and environmental impact top of mind.
What you’ll learn
Attendees will walk through the full lifecycle of an automation-ready, sustainable lab—from early concept development and kickoff meetings to design, construction, occupancy, and post-occupancy evaluation. The speakers will highlight:
Core principles of automation-era design. Learn the infrastructure and spatial requirements necessary to support robotics and AI.
Strategies for integrating automation. Discover practical approaches that balance cutting-edge technologies with the need for adaptable, multi-purpose spaces.
Sustainability initiatives. Gain insight into forward-thinking energy and resource efficiency strategies that make labs both resilient and responsible.
Pitfalls and lessons learned. Hear cautionary tales from recent projects that underscore what can go wrong if automation needs aren’t anticipated early in the design process.
By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped with actionable steps to help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure your projects are designed for long-term success. Register here for free.
Bring your questions!
Join Adam Harper, studio director and senior associate at Gensler, and Megan Skarkas, technical designer at Gensler, for an engaging, interactive session. Far more than a lecture, this webinar invites attendees to bring their questions directly to the experts. From addressing rising power demands to evaluating sustainability strategies and planning for long-term flexibility, participants will gain practical insights tailored to real-world challenges. With deep experience in lab planning and design, Harper and Skarkas will share how automation is reshaping the way research facilities are conceived, constructed, and operated.
This course is approved by AIA CES for 1 LU, making it a valuable opportunity not just to expand your knowledge but also to earn continuing education credit.
Don’t miss your chance to gain insights into the future of laboratory design. Register today for free to join live—or sign up to view the session on demand at your convenience!
