Lab Design Conference Speaker Profile: Lamar Pritchard
F. Lamar Pritchard, PhD, RPh, dean of the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, will be speaking at the 2025 Lab Design Conference in Denver, CO. He and his colleagues Luke Voiland, principal and executive vice president for practice strategy with Shepley Bulfinch, and Jeffery Bottomley, principal with Shepley Bulfinch, will present “The Role of Pharmacy within a Broader Interdisciplinary Research Environment” on May 12 at 1:30pm.
This presentation examines the impact of modern pharmacy labs on advancing research in pharmacogenomics, drug discovery, and toxicology through interdisciplinary collaboration. It highlights the collaborative effort behind the design of the UH Health & Biomedical Sciences Building, which features adaptable lab spaces to accommodate evolving research demands. With a focus on natural light and strategic wayfinding, the design promotes productivity and well-being. The discussion will explore how the integration of academic, clinical, and community spaces fosters interprofessional education and collaborative care, driving innovation in pharmacy and biomedical research.
Lab Design News spoke with Lamar about the Health 2 Building project, his favorite outdoor activities, and an important “soft skill” for lab design/build experts. Register now so you don’t miss this session!
Q: How is your Lab Design Conference talk particularly relevant to today’s laboratory design landscape?
A: We will discuss the collaborative multifaceted multidiscipline laboratory design process that was used to design and build the new Health 2 Building—the new home of the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.
Q: What are some key takeaways that attendees can expect from your session, and how can they apply these lessons to their own lab projects?
A: Design the laboratory space to offer maximum flexibility, in order to be able to take advantage of new scientific concepts in the coming decades.
Q: Can you share a case study or real-world example that you’ll be discussing during your Lab Design Conference talk, and how it reflects current trends in lab design?
A: We will discuss the design of the new Health 2 building at the University of Houston. It is a multipurpose and multidisciplinary space that allows for future flexibility and collaboration between scientific disciplines.
Q: What is one important “soft skill” that all lab design experts should have?
A: The ability to actively listen and build consensus among members of the multidisciplinary design team.
Q: What kinds of hobbies or interests do you have outside of work?
A: I love the outdoors. Hiking, hunting, and fishing are my favorite interests outside of work.
