Webinar Preview: Should You Build New or Renovate?
When laboratory organizations outgrow their existing space or need to modernize aging infrastructure, one question inevitably arises: Is it better to build new or renovate?
The answer is rarely straightforward. While budgets and schedules often dominate early discussions, the most successful projects also account for laboratory infrastructure, regulatory requirements, operational continuity, occupant well-being, and the flexibility needed to support future scientific programs.
To help laboratory owners, planners, architects, engineers, facility managers, and research leaders navigate these decisions, Lab Design will present the free webinar “New Build or Renovation?” on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 1:00 pm ET.
Presented by Ben de Rubertis, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ULI, principal at Flad Architects, and Stuart Lewis, LEED AP, principal and planner at Flad Architects, the webinar provides a practical framework for evaluating whether new construction, renovation, or adaptive reuse is the best solution for a laboratory project.
Rather than focusing solely on construction costs, the presenters will examine the broader factors that determine long-term project success. Attendees will learn how to assess existing facility conditions, determine whether current infrastructure can support modern laboratory operations, and identify limitations that may affect safety, performance, or future expansion.
The session will also explore how building systems—including ventilation capacity, hazardous material handling, environmental controls, and code compliance—can influence the feasibility of renovation versus new construction. Real-world project examples will illustrate how organizations have balanced competing priorities while creating laboratories that remain adaptable for years to come.
For organizations considering renovations, maintaining operations during construction is often one of the greatest challenges. The webinar will discuss planning, phasing, and risk-management strategies that help minimize disruption while protecting researchers, construction personnel, and ongoing scientific work.
Beyond technical considerations, the presenters will also examine how facility decisions affect the people who use laboratories every day. Topics such as indoor environmental quality, access to daylight, collaboration spaces, and flexible planning all contribute to healthier, more productive research environments and should be part of the decision-making process from the earliest stages of planning.
Whether attendees are preparing for a major capital project, evaluating an existing facility, or simply looking to better understand the tradeoffs between renovation and new construction, the webinar offers practical guidance that can be applied to projects of virtually any size.
The session qualifies for 1 AIA LU/HSW credit, making it especially valuable for architects and design professionals seeking continuing education while gaining insights directly applicable to laboratory projects.
As with all Lab Design webinars, registration is free. Participants can attend the live broadcast on July 30 to engage with the presenters or register to watch the presentation on demand afterward at their convenience.
For anyone involved in planning, designing, renovating, or operating laboratory facilities, this webinar offers an opportunity to better understand the decisions that shape successful, resilient research environments—and to learn strategies that can help maximize both current performance and long-term facility value. Register today!
