Future of Labs, Reimagined

What happens when we design today’s laboratories for a future we cannot accurately predict? Rapid advances in automation, digitalization, artificial intelligence, scientific convergence, and changing workforce expectations are increasingly shaping laboratories. At the same time, market disruption and growing demands for resilience are challenging the assumption that laboratory environments can remain fit for purpose for decades without significant adaptation. So, what does it mean to design a laboratory that is truly “future-ready”?

This presentation explores how laboratories will evolve over the next decade—and what that means for the infrastructure, technology, and workforce decisions being made today. Drawing on new research, real-world case studies, and interviews with clients and industry leaders, the presentation will explore the tensions shaping the next generation of laboratory environments.

Key themes will include the impact of digitalization and “dark labs” on traditional laboratory design principles, the balance between automation and the human experience, the growing convergence of scientific disciplines and the need for flexible infrastructure, and the implications of market disruption and uncertainty for long-term resilience.

Through case studies and discussion, participants will consider what future-ready infrastructure really means, how the balance between people and automation may differ between urban laboratories and science campuses, and how laboratories can stay relevant as science, technology, and user needs continue to change.

Attendees will leave with a framework for thinking differently about long-term laboratory design—and practical considerations for creating environments that can adapt, evolve, and continue to support scientific innovation throughout their lifecycle.

Learning objectives:
1. Identify key trends driving changes in the research environment and evaluate their implications for laboratory infrastructure, technology, workforce needs, and long-term adaptability.
2. Explain what the emergence of “dark labs” means for laboratory design, including how reduced physical lab activity may influence space planning, infrastructure, safety, and user needs.
3. Evaluate how to balance digitalization and automation with human factors, including occupant experience, comfort, safety, collaboration, and the challenges of attracting and retaining talent.
4. Apply key considerations for designing laboratories that remain relevant and adaptable over the next 10+ years, balancing flexibility, resilience, scientific and operational needs, and the ability to accommodate changing technologies and users.