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The AI-Driven Shift in Lab Design
AI is transforming research so rapidly that laboratories must evolve into flexible, digitally integrated, and automation-ready ecosystems—designed as dynamic platforms for both current and future technologies—where adaptability, smart infrastructure, and cross-sector best practices are the new gold standard for accelerating discovery at “machine speed”
Designing for Complexity: University of Arizona’s Applied Research Building Wins Award for Excellence in Whole Building/Holistic Design—New Build
The University of Arizona’s Applied Research Building, recognized with a 2025 Design Excellence Award, showcases a mission-driven, adaptable approach to lab design, supporting specialized research in space science, imaging, and high-bay integration while offering insights for planning complex research facilities
Designing for the New “Live, Work, Play, Healthcare” Era
Healthcare real estate is shifting toward multi-use developments that blend clinical and laboratory facilities with housing, retail, and wellness amenities, and the Medical Pavilion I & II at National Harbor exemplifies how early planning, flexible infrastructure, and sensitive site design can enable labs to function effectively within dense, amenity-rich environments while coexisting comfortably with diverse neighboring uses
A Guide to Responsible and Reproducible Vivarium Illumination
The shift from human-centric lighting metrics to animal-centric measures like alpha-opic irradiance and melanopic EDI offers a path for vivarium designs that better support animal welfare, reduce experimental variability, and enhance research reproducibility
From Tight Quarters to Growth-Ready: How One Biotech Upgraded Its Lab Space
Orano Med’s $5 million expansion of its Texas R&D center offers a real-world look at how thoughtful planning, end-user input, and strategic upgrades can support growth—offering valuable takeaways for anyone planning a lab expansion project
Advocacy to Action: Science Building Breaks Ground
Massasoit Community College has broken ground on a $52 million, sustainability-driven renovation of its STEM facilities—achieved through strategic advocacy and reframing efforts that secured state funding and set a model for cost-effective, mission-aligned campus transformation
From Old to High-Performing: Navigating the Complexities of Breathing New Life into Existing Buildings
Outdated buildings—including a federal lab and a former big-box store—can be successfully transformed into high-performing, flexible laboratory spaces by leveraging early feasibility studies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and design strategies focused on sustainability, adaptability, and occupant well-being
Controlling Floor Vibration in Labs and Medical Spaces
To achieve optimal performance in lab and medical environments—particularly those with sensitive equipment—design teams should address floor vibration control early in the process using thorough evaluation, predictive modeling, and targeted mitigation strategies
Five Benefits of Attending the 2026 Lab Design Conference in Orlando
The 2026 Lab Design Conference, celebrating its 25th year on May 11–14 in Orlando, will bring together leading professionals in laboratory planning, design, and construction for AIA-accredited education, networking, exhibits, workshops, and lab tours focused on innovation, sustainability, and the future of lab environments
USDA Announces Closure of Key Agricultural Research Center; Future Plans Remain Unclear
The USDA’s plan to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland has raised concerns among lawmakers, researchers, and farm groups, who warn that shuttering the facility could disrupt critical agricultural research and leaves the future of its laboratories, equipment, and infrastructure uncertain