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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Larry Wright presented the full gut renovation of the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute, illustrating how outdated, highly technical mid-century research buildings can be sustainably transformed—preserving architectural legacy, improving animal research operations, and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
Deadline Extended: Share Your Lab Design Lessons at the 2026 Lab Design Conference
The deadline to submit a proposal for the 2026 Lab Design Conference has been extended to August 15, 2025, giving presenters more time to refine their ideas, enlist end users as co-speakers, and craft engaging, real-world sessions that will inspire the lab design community
“Wait, This Isn’t What We Asked For”: A Lab End User’s Checklist for Successful Projects
Lab end users often have little say in design projects despite being most affected, but Dwayne Henry’s experience at Montgomery College—which he shared at the 2025 Lab Design Conference in Denver—shows that early involvement, clear communication, and ongoing engagement improve outcomes and help avoid costly mistakes
Just a Few More Days to Submit Your Lab Design Conference Proposal!
If you’ve led a lab project and learned something others should know—whether through a challenge, a success, or a lesson hard-earned—the 2026 Lab Design Conference is your chance to share it
Designing for Uncertainty: How Lab Facilities Can Stay Resilient Amid Shifting Priorities
2025 Lab Design Conference keynote speaker Jim Blount urged attendees to embrace flexibility and data-driven strategies as essential tools for navigating the challenges of shifting research priorities, funding uncertainty, and rising construction costs
Measuring for Scientific Impact: Metrics That Drive Laboratory Design
At the 2025 Lab Design Conference, Regal Leftwich of CannonDesign emphasized that laboratory planning must be grounded in measurable, future-ready metrics—ranging from research intensity and utilization to flexibility and life-cycle cost—asserting that by aligning design decisions with evolving scientific workflows, interdisciplinary collaboration, and grant-readiness, labs can become powerful tools for advancing research impact while optimizing long-term value
Tips and Topic Ideas for Speaking at the Lab Design Conference
The Lab Design Conference unites diverse lab professionals to share honest, practical insights and lessons learned from real-world projects—beyond polished success stories—to help attendees navigate every stage of lab planning, construction, and operation with actionable takeaways and meaningful engagement