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“Wait, This Isn’t What We Asked For”: A Lab End User’s Checklist for Successful Projects
Lab end users often have little say in design projects despite being most affected, but Dwayne Henry’s experience at Montgomery College—which he shared at the 2025 Lab Design Conference in Denver—shows that early involvement, clear communication, and ongoing engagement improve outcomes and help avoid costly mistakes
Boise State’s New Science Building Models Inclusive, Collaborative STEM Design
Boise State University is advancing STEM education with a new interdisciplinary science building—planned to open in 2029—that was shaped through extensive stakeholder input, strategic site selection, and a focus on flexible, inclusive spaces designed to support collaboration, accessibility, and growing student enrollment
Facility Design Insights from Mizzou’s Meat Science Laboratory Build
The planning and design of the Michael L. Parson Meat Science Laboratory at the University of Missouri offers practical insights for teams currently undertaking lab construction projects
University of Maine Launches Innovative GEM Research Facility
The University of Maine has broken ground on the GEM Factory of the Future, a cutting-edge research facility designed to integrate sustainable mass timber construction, AI-enabled manufacturing, and robotics within a highly precise, adaptable, and collaborative academic environment
Design Lessons from a Queen Conch Mobile Lab
Florida Atlantic University’s expanded Queen Conch Mobile Lab, supported by Chef José Andrés’ Longer Tables Fund, offers a scalable, community-driven model for aquaculture research and education, providing actionable lessons in modular design, local partnership, and flexible infrastructure for conservation-focused labs
From Fire to Future: How Building X Reunites Researchers
The University of Delaware’s new Building X demonstrates how early end user engagement, flexible lab design, and integrated sustainability strategies can create a resilient, collaborative research facility that meets evolving scientific and campus needs
Courtroom-to-Lab Conversion: Adaptive Reuse for Next-Gen STEM Education
UMBC transformed a historic courthouse into advanced classroom and lab space to support growing programs in computing, cybersecurity, and engineering while preserving and repurposing existing infrastructure
UNC Pauses $228M Research Facility Amid Federal Funding Uncertainty
UNC-Chapel Hill has paused construction of its $228 million Translational Research Building due to growing uncertainty over federal funding, including the loss of 104 research grants and proposed cuts to indirect cost recovery that threaten its primary financing strategy
New Lab Simulates Orbit to Test 3D-Printed Materials
Researchers at the University of Glasgow have built the world’s first dedicated facility—the NextSpace TestRig—designed to simulate extreme space conditions in a custom vacuum chamber to test the structural integrity of 3D-printed materials for in-orbit manufacturing
Navigating the International Building Code’s “New” Requirements for Higher Education Laboratories
Recent updates to the International Building Code, including the introduction of Section 428, allow higher education laboratories to exceed previous hazardous material limits while maintaining Group B occupancy, offering greater design flexibility and alignment with modern lab practices without compromising safety or compliance