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What’s Ahead: 2026 Lab Design Conference Agenda Unveiled
View the agenda for the 2026 Lab Design Conference, taking place May 11–14 in Orlando, FL—early bird tickets are available through December 31
Too Much Water, Too Little Time: Designing Research Labs for Climate Resilience
As climate change drives more frequent and severe weather events, experts warn that resilient lab design—guided by realistic threat assessments and proactive infrastructure choices—is now essential to protect research continuity and prevent catastrophic losses
Busting the Myth of Adaptive Reuse: Lessons in Retrofitting Labs for Structural Performance and Sustainability
As demand for life science and advanced technology spaces grows, adaptive reuse offers sustainability and speed—but as speakers at the 2025 Lab Design Conference emphasized, converting offices, warehouses, or retail buildings into high-performance labs presents complex structural challenges that require careful evaluation of each building’s limitations and suitability
Science for Everyone: Moving Beyond ADA in Lab Design
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
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
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Outdated buildings—including a federal lab and a former big-box store—can be successfully transformed into high-performing, flexible laboratory spaces by leveraging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
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
Creating the Future from the Past: An Environmental Case Study
At the 2025 Lab Design Conference, Leo A Daly’s Larry Wright presented the full gut renovation of the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute, illustrating how outdated, highly technical mid-century research buildings can be sustainably transformed—preserving architectural legacy, improving animal research operations, and achieving LEED Silver certification—through thoughtful planning, structural innovation, and reduced embodied carbon
Alternate Models for Bioscience Research Facilities: Making the Case for Urban Integration
As urban land grows scarcer, bioscience is shifting away from suburban campuses toward integrated urban labs that leverage adaptive reuse, sustainability, financial innovation, and community engagement to create vibrant, flexible research environments that benefit cities and science alike
Beyond Illumination: Thoughtful Lighting Design Transforms Laboratory Functionality and Sustainability
A 2025 Lab Design Conference session led by WSP’s Colin Conroy and Shannon Kaplan, emphasized that lighting—far from a mere afterthought—is a critical design element that influences lab safety, accuracy, comfort, sustainability, and occupant well-being