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Designing Vertically: The Future of Urban Labs
Vertical lab design is redefining urban research facilities by maximizing limited real estate, emphasizing the importance of early interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome structural, MEP, and regulatory challenges and create adaptable, high-performance spaces for the future of science
Planning for Collaboration and Change in Lab Design
The University of Missouri’s forthcoming Energy Innovation Center offers a model for designing flexible, future-ready research facilities, with lessons on mission-driven planning, phased occupancy, user engagement, and spatial strategies that foster long-term interdisciplinary collaboration
Aggie Square and the Rise of Integrated Innovation Hubs
Aggie Square in Sacramento exemplifies a new model for innovation districts by blending academic, industry, and community uses within a flexible, all-electric research campus—prioritizing openness, sustainability, and stakeholder collaboration to deliver a high-performance, inclusive environment for next-generation research and development
Rebar Collapse Halts Work on University’s Engineering Lab Expansion
A structural rebar and post-tension cable collapse at the University of Victoria’s $89.6 million Engineering and Computer Science expansion site caused a temporary road closure and raised safety concerns, though no injuries were reported and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and impact on the project timeline
“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
South Jersey’s Aerospace Future Takes Flight with Topping Off of NARTP Innovation Center
The topping off of Building No. 2 at the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park marks a major step toward establishing South Jersey as a hub for aerospace innovation, providing state-of-the-art space for research, collaboration, and workforce development
Scaling Lab Space with Purpose: Bigelow’s Takeaways
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences’ new Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation exemplifies mission-driven, flexible growth, with a 25,000-square-foot expansion that prioritizes user-informed design, marine-specific infrastructure, and adaptable spaces to support evolving research, education, and community engagement needs
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