The Role of Pharmacy Within a Broader Interdisciplinary Research Environment
2025 Lab Design Conference speaker—Jeffery Bottomley, principal, Shepley Bulfinch
Modern pharmacy research labs have evolved far beyond traditional dispensaries, emerging as dynamic hubs that integrate cutting-edge technology with interdisciplinary collaboration. The University of Houston’s College of Pharmacy exemplifies this transformation through its newly designed Health & Biomedical Sciences Building 2 (HBSB2), where pharmacy research is intentionally woven into a broader scientific ecosystem encompassing biology, chemistry, medicine, and emerging fields like bioinformatics and molecular biology.
In their 2025 Lab Design Conference session, The Role of Pharmacy within a Broader Interdisciplinary Research Environment, Jeffery Bottomley, principal, and Luke Voiland, principal and executive vice president for practice strategy, both at architectural firm Shepley Bulfinch, joined Lamar Pritchard, PhD, RPh, dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Houston, to discuss the vital role pharmacy plays in today’s interdisciplinary research environment and how thoughtful lab design can accelerate collaboration and innovation.
Pharmacy as a central hub for interdisciplinary collaboration
Pharmacy, by nature, sits at the intersection of multiple scientific disciplines. Modern pharmacy laboratories are equipped with advanced technologies that support diverse research areas including pharmacogenomics, drug discovery, and toxicology. These labs serve as a nexus linking biology’s molecular insights, chemistry’s synthetic expertise, and medicine’s clinical applications.
Pritchard highlighted how the College of Pharmacy’s mission extends beyond training future pharmacists to fostering researchers who understand and contribute to complex healthcare challenges from multiple angles. This vision requires physical spaces that break down silos between disciplines and encourage continuous interaction among researchers from different fields.
The impact of facility design on collaboration
2025 Lab Design Conference speaker—Luke Voiland, principal and executive vice president for practice strategy, Shepley Bulfinch
Bottomley and Voiland emphasized that the built environment significantly shapes how and whether interdisciplinary collaboration occurs. At the University of Houston, the design of the Health & Biomedical Sciences Building 2 prioritized flexible laboratory spaces that can evolve with shifting research methodologies and emerging scientific needs.
“We designed labs to be adaptable, not only in equipment but also in layout,” Voiland explained. This flexibility ensures that research teams can reconfigure spaces for new projects or to accommodate evolving technologies, supporting continuous innovation.
In addition to spatial flexibility, other design elements play a critical role in fostering collaboration and well-being. Natural light was strategically incorporated throughout the building, which research shows can improve mood, productivity, and overall health. Thoughtful wayfinding—clear signage and intuitive circulation—was also implemented to encourage spontaneous encounters and easy navigation, thereby promoting interdisciplinary interaction.
Bridging academic, clinical, and community realms
2025 Lab Design Conference speaker—Lamar Pritchard, PhD, RPh, dean of the College of Pharmacy University of Houston
A key aspect of the HBSB2 project was creating a seamless connection between academic research, clinical application, and community engagement. The facility integrates teaching labs with clinical simulation spaces and community health outreach areas to provide a holistic environment where pharmacy education extends beyond the classroom and lab bench.
This integration supports interprofessional education, where students and researchers from pharmacy, nursing, medicine, and other health professions learn and collaborate together. Such an approach prepares graduates to deliver collaborative, patient-centered care in real-world settings.
The seminar also explored broader trends influencing laboratory design today. On a macro scale, the increasing complexity of health challenges demands interdisciplinary research approaches that traditional, discipline-specific labs cannot adequately support. Additionally, rapid technological advances require spaces that can quickly adapt to new equipment and workflows.
On a micro level, user input and evolving pedagogical models shape how educational labs are designed. The University of Houston’s approach involved close collaboration between architects, faculty, and researchers to ensure the spaces meet current needs while remaining future-ready.
Lessons for future lab projects
The University of Houston’s experience underscores several key lessons for institutions designing pharmacy and biomedical research facilities:
Flexibility is paramount: Spaces must accommodate changing scientific methods and foster collaborative workflows.
Design influences culture: Elements like natural light, clear wayfinding, and shared social spaces promote interaction and well-being.
Interdisciplinary integration enhances outcomes: Physical proximity and shared environments among different health professions encourage innovation and improve educational outcomes.
Stakeholder collaboration is critical: Engaging end users early ensures the facility truly supports research goals and adapts to evolving needs.
As pharmacy continues to evolve as a vital component of interdisciplinary health sciences, lab environments must be designed to reflect and enable this integration. The University of Houston’s Health & Biomedical Sciences Building 2 serves as a compelling model for how thoughtful, flexible, and human-centered design can support the next generation of researchers and practitioners in pharmacy and beyond.
The 2026 Lab Design Conference is headed to Orlando, FL, on May 11-14! Visit https://www.labdesignconference.com/ for regular updates on the agenda, networking opportunities, and optional lab tours and workshops.
