Join us for
the 25th annual Lab Design Conference in 2026!

We’ll see you in Orlando on May 11-14 at the leading business conference
for lab design professionals to learn about sustainable design, industry trends, and more

Featured

Content
Five Benefits of Attending the 2026 Lab Design Conference in Orlando
Lab Design Conference, Design Excellence Awards
Five Benefits of Attending the 2026 Lab Design Conference in Orlando
Lab Design Conference, Design Excellence Awards

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

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Lab Design Conference, Design Excellence Awards
USDA Announces Closure of Key Agricultural Research Center; Future Plans Remain Unclear
Government Labs, Relocation, News, Agricultural Labs, budgeting
USDA Announces Closure of Key Agricultural Research Center; Future Plans Remain Unclear
Government Labs, Relocation, News, Agricultural Labs, budgeting

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

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Government Labs, Relocation, News, Agricultural Labs, budgeting
Innovation and Creativity in Modern Lab Design—A Perspective from Experience
Innovation, Design Concepts
Innovation and Creativity in Modern Lab Design—A Perspective from Experience
Innovation, Design Concepts

Designing labs that fuel innovation takes more than vision—it requires purpose-driven design, creative freedom, and operational foresight, and this insider perspective reveals how today’s most forward-thinking teams are transforming labs into strategic assets that inspire discovery and adapt to what’s next

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Innovation, Design Concepts

Latest

Content
Where Robotics Meets the Coast: Building for Resilience
New Builds, Marine Labs, robotics, Construction
Where Robotics Meets the Coast: Building for Resilience
New Builds, Marine Labs, robotics, Construction

The MBARI Instrumentation Integration and Testing Facility demonstrates how innovative engineering, resilient materials, and environmentally sensitive construction can overcome coastal site challenges to support advanced ocean robotics and research

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New Builds, Marine Labs, robotics, Construction
Science for Everyone: Moving Beyond ADA in Lab Design
Lab Design Conference, Design Concepts, Safety, Accessibility
Science for Everyone: Moving Beyond ADA in Lab Design
Lab Design Conference, Design Concepts, Safety, Accessibility

Achieving true inclusivity in lab environments means going beyond ADA compliance to consider the full spectrum of human abilities—both visible and invisible—by integrating accessibility into the design process from the outset, with empathy guiding decisions rather than just code requirements

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Lab Design Conference, Design Concepts, Safety, Accessibility
The AI-Driven Shift in Lab Design
Artificial intelligence (AI), Robotics, Innovation
The AI-Driven Shift in Lab Design
Artificial intelligence (AI), Robotics, Innovation

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”

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Artificial intelligence (AI), Robotics, Innovation

Upcoming Events

Events
Casework & Furniture Digital Conference
Sep 17
Casework & Furniture Digital Conference

Join Lab Design for the Casework and Furniture Digital Conference, which will provide valuable insights into creating lab spaces that meet the diverse needs of scientists and researchers while maintaining aesthetic appeal

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Webinar: How to Build a Sustainable Automated Lab
Sep 25
Webinar: How to Build a Sustainable Automated Lab

This webinar will explore how to incorporate the rapid advancements in lab automation and AI into the physical and operational requirements of research facilities—highlighting core design principles, infrastructure needs, sustainability strategies, and lessons learned to help create flexible, future-ready labs

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Webinar: How to Build an Adaptable Lab
Oct 8
Webinar: How to Build an Adaptable Lab

Register for this free webinar from Lab Design to discover how industry experts are guiding teams through the full lifecycle of adaptable labs—covering flexibility, AI, robotics, modular systems, and practical strategies to ensure facilities evolve with changing science

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On-Demand Events

Events
On Demand Webinar: Sustainability Considerations in Small Laboratory Renovations and Refits
Aug 19
On Demand Webinar: Sustainability Considerations in Small Laboratory Renovations and Refits

Register for this free Lab Design webinar to discover a practical, flexible approach to sustainability for fast-paced lab renovations, and learn how to set clear goals, drive innovation, and deliver meaningful results—without relying on third-party rating systems

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On Demand Webinar: Panel Discussion: Federal Funding in Flux: Lessons Learned and New Strategies for Lab Projects
Aug 14
On Demand Webinar: Panel Discussion: Federal Funding in Flux: Lessons Learned and New Strategies for Lab Projects

Register for this free Lab Design webinar for an expert-led follow-up on the past few months of funding and economic shifts—and learn how these recent developments are affecting lab construction timelines, budgets, and planning strategies

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Innovations in Design Tools Digital Conference
Jul 29
Innovations in Design Tools Digital Conference

Join Lab Design for the Innovations in Design Tools Digital Conference, where our speakers will review software options that facilitate better project management and team communication when designing, building, or renovating a lab

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Project Profiles

Content
Project Profile: The Applied Research Center at Florida Polytechnic University
Project Profile: The Applied Research Center at Florida Polytechnic University

The Applied Research Center (ARC) at Florida Polytechnic University is a 95,000-sf hub for innovation and collaboration, featuring flexible research spaces, teaching labs, and sustainability-focused design that supports the university's growth while fostering industry partnerships and connectivity across campus

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Office to Lab Conversion for the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Office to Lab Conversion for the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Lab Design News spoke to Jay Deshmukh, OAA MRAIC, an associate principal at Arcadis who was the project manager and design lead on the project, and Tiina Hubel, OAA, MRAIC, a senior associate at Arcadis who worked as a project architect

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Project Profile: University of California Irvine, Medical Education Building
Project Profile: University of California Irvine, Medical Education Building

Gensler recently completed a renovation of the Medical Education Building at University of California Irvine which spanned multiple project types including an anatomy lab, Active Learning Center, student lounge, classrooms, and offices

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Professional Profiles

Content
Professional Profile: Matt Malone
Professional Profile: Matt Malone

Lab Design News spoke to Matt Malone, science and technology practice leader at Perkins&Will, about how his multidisciplinary experience—from architect to developer—shapes his holistic approach to lab planning, fuels his commitment to end-user collaboration

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Professional Profile: Steve Reynolds
Professional Profile: Steve Reynolds

Lab Design News spoke to Steve Reynolds, vice president of civil engineering with Original Survey Solutions, about his deep-rooted interest in land development, key moments that shaped his career, and the emerging trends influencing the future of lab design

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Professional Profile: Jamie Huffman
Professional Profile: Jamie Huffman

Lab Design News spoke to Jamie Huffman, science + technology project director at Taylor Design, about how his passion for ecology, design, and human-centered collaboration shapes his approach to lab planning and drives his vision for creating science environments that are both impactful and deeply connected to the natural world

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Op-Ed

Content
Design Like a J.E.D.I.: Silent Heroes, Still Waiting: How Mitochondrial DNA Is Giving a Voice to the Missing and Hope to the Families Left Behind
Design Like a J.E.D.I.: Silent Heroes, Still Waiting: How Mitochondrial DNA Is Giving a Voice to the Missing and Hope to the Families Left Behind

To support the vital work of recovering, identifying, and honoring the remains of missing servicemembers through advanced DNA analysis, forensic laboratories must be purpose-built to enable the precise, contamination-free processing of ancient and mitochondrial DNA—making thoughtful lab design an essential foundation for reuniting families with those lost to war

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Design Like a J.E.D.I.: You Belong Here—How Courage, Representation, and Leadership Create Space for Us All
Design Like a J.E.D.I.: You Belong Here—How Courage, Representation, and Leadership Create Space for Us All

Dr. Shamika Kelley is transforming New Orleans' forensic lab not only through empathetic leadership and wellness-focused culture, but by directly influencing the physical lab space—expanding staff capacity, bringing DNA analysis in-house with advanced equipment, and ensuring the layout supports both operational excellence and human-centered design

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The Best—and Worst—of Times
The Best—and Worst—of Times

Effective job site meetings—though often disliked—are essential for coordinating complex construction projects, helping all subcontractors anticipate delays, voice concerns, and avoid costly consequences through early, candid communication

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