The Future of Lab Automation: Opportunities, Challenges, and Sustainable Design Solutions
Lab automation, powered by robotics and AI, is revolutionizing R&D by streamlining workflows and emphasizing sustainability through thoughtful ecosystem design and life cycle management.
Megan Skarkas, LEED Green Associate with Gensler, is co-author of this piece.
Over the last decade, lab automation has surged, transforming research and discovery processes. The integration of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) into lab spaces is streamlining R&D in ways that were once unimaginable. To maximize its potential, however, a holistic approach is critical. Automation in labs isn’t just about advanced tools; it’s about creating an entire ecosystem that considers workflow efficiency, spatial design, and environmental sustainability.
The success of automated labs hinges on understanding automation’s full life cycle, from initial implementation to system upgrades and replacement. This understanding is crucial, especially when considering sustainability. The automation life cycle impacts energy use, material waste, and environmental factors, all of which play a significant role in sustainability goals. A well-informed approach ensures that we optimize these resources thoughtfully, supporting long-term environmental health and regulatory compliance.
Below are key considerations for designing lab automation that supports a sustainable, responsible, and forward-looking future
Lab automation and sustainability: a lifecycle perspective
As we adopt automation, it’s vital to address the environmental challenges that accompany these advancements. Automated labs demand up to ten times the energy of traditional wet labs, and they require specific power supplies and HVAC systems capable of supporting high-density equipment. The environmental implications are significant, from the increased energy consumption to the raw materials needed for automated systems, which often include rare metals. Integrating sustainable building practices into lab design can counterbalance these factors.
Key strategies might include:
Reducing air change rates: Automated labs often require less direct human interaction, which means air change rates can be reduced when occupancy is low, cutting down on unnecessary HVAC demand.
Efficient cooling and heating: Inline cooling systems that channel excess heat from robots back into the building’s heating system can redistribute energy, minimizing waste and reducing the need for additional power.
Advanced robotic containment: Self-enclosed robotic hoods can contain robotic equipment, reducing the demand on exhaust systems. This allows labs to integrate more seamlessly with adjoining office spaces, optimizing energy use while supporting hybrid lab-office environments.
Onsite energy generation: All-electric lab buildings with campus-level energy generation—such as solar or geothermal—can provide sustainable power, making it easier to scale automation without increasing the carbon footprint.
Carbon capture integration: New technologies, like carbon capture, could be installed directly in lab ventilation systems, allowing buildings to sequester significant CO2 emissions, particularly for high-output labs.
A shift in space planning needs
Lab automation is transforming lab design, blending robotic work cells with flexible, human-centered spaces to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and innovation while supporting specialized infrastructure and sustainability needs.
As lab automation grows, so too will the requirements for space planning and infrastructure. While the overall footprint of lab spaces may remain stable, their use will become more specialized and interconnected. Traditional lab benches and wet-lab setups will blend with enclosed robotic work cells, forming flexible spaces where scientists and machines work in tandem. This requires thoughtful design strategies to accommodate the needs of both human and robotic users.
Specific considerations include:
Flooring and structural modifications: Many lab robots require stable, level floors with minimized thresholds for easy mobility, while large-format robots may demand reinforced flooring and additional ceiling height.
Increased storage for consumables: Automation often requires a significant inventory of consumables, from pipette tips to reagent containers. Storage areas will need to be more robust, and inventory management may shift toward automated systems to keep pace with demand.
Hybrid lab-office spaces: Automated lab functions allow for creative layouts, blending lab and office zones for a more cohesive environment. This hybrid approach fosters collaboration between scientists and support staff, while also optimizing space for evolving needs.
Space for allied staff: Automation is creating new roles, such as robotic technicians and AI specialists, whose workspace needs differ from traditional lab users. These support staff will require dedicated areas to monitor robotic systems, maintain equipment, and collaborate with research teams.
Opportunities for optimizing the workplace experience
Automation doesn’t only increase efficiency; it also improves the quality of the workplace experience for scientists and researchers. By taking over repetitive, manual tasks, robots allow scientists to focus on high-impact work, like data analysis and experimental design, freeing them from routine, time-consuming processes. This shift fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation by creating an environment where researchers can direct their energy to core scientific challenges.
Opportunities for workplace enhancement include:
Collaborative work zones: With robots managing repetitive lab tasks, researchers can spend more time in collaborative spaces designed to encourage idea-sharing and team-based problem-solving.
On-demand robotics: High-throughput robotics can test and analyze thousands of compounds quickly, shortening the time between idea generation and product development. AI’s ability to sift through vast data sets and pinpoint promising directions enhances this process, allowing for smarter, faster testing.
Personalized medicine R&D: Automation aligns perfectly with the demands of personalized healthcare, where therapies are developed based on genetic markers or individual health profiles. Automation not only improves research efficiency but also opens new possibilities for treatment by reducing the time from initial discovery to clinical application.
Integrative data analysis spaces: Data-driven labs benefit from a close link between lab work and data processing, allowing for workspaces that support both analysis and experimentation in real-time.
Designing for a sustainable, automated future
Lab automation offers incredible potential for advancing human health, but without responsible planning, it can also lead to unintended environmental consequences. As automation becomes integral to research, it’s essential to build spaces that align with sustainable goals, ensuring that labs remain efficient and adaptive. By integrating energy-saving systems, repurposing heat loads, and designing flexible, future-ready spaces, we can mitigate the environmental impact of lab automation while preserving its significant potential for advancing R&D and health and wellness.
Megan Skarkas, LEED Green Associate, technical designer in Gensler’s Boston office focusing on sciences, workplace, and higher education projects, is co-author of this piece. She brings a passion for crafting innovative and creative design solutions that elevate the built environment and enhance daily experiences. Megan approaches every project as an opportunity to blend technical precision with thoughtful design, delivering spaces that inspire and perform. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech. She can be reached at megan_skarkas@gensler.com.
