Founded in 1975, Tradeline, Inc. produces highly regarded conferences and reports for facility planning, design, construction, and management professionals across corporate, institutional, and government sectors. Tradeline produces 6 annual conferences covering planning, design, and construction for facility renovations, expansions, and new construction; space planning and management; management and operations of real estate and facilities; and strategic facilities planning.
Science & Engineering Facilities 2026 highlights the latest facility solutions to meet the needs of basic and applied sciences and many new and rapidly growing fields of study. This is where institutional facility planners and capital project teams meet with facility industry leaders for 2 days of learning, collaboration, and face-to-face connection.
Main Conference: October 5–6, 2026
Location: Omni Nashville, Nashville, TN
Format: In-person only
Pre-Conference Course: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Post-Conference Tour: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 — Vanderbilt University Science & Engineering Facilities
Conference registration is open to those employed at universities, colleges, and junior colleges, research organizations, and private industry partners, including project managers, facility planners, lab planners, space planners, architects, facility engineers, operations managers, academic science, technology, and engineering deans, faculty, and research program administrators.
Product vendors must be sponsors or exhibitors to attend. Conference sessions are aimed at equipping facility owners and end-users to make optimal project decisions.
Yes. Register as a Service Provider. Note: sales and promotional activities are strictly prohibited for all attendees.
You'll get the details, metrics, costs, and functional requirements for modern laboratories and core facilities, and spaces for teaching, learning, testing, making, imaging, collaborating, computing, socializing, officing, recruiting, and more. Benchmark your institution's plans and processes for the renovation, modernization, expansion, and new construction of science, engineering, and research facilities.
Specific takeaways include:
- Planning processes and analytical tools
- Live case studies and competitive studies
- Peer benchmarking
- Vendor evaluation
Research facility capital is moving toward institutions ready to execute. Federal and defense-related research investment is prioritizing on-shore, shovel-ready capability. Institutions winning major projects are the ones with credible numbers: real costs, proven delivery models, and defensible space programs.
SEF 2026 is led by teams delivering funded projects now — including the National Laboratory of the Rockies' $224 million, 127,000-sf energy materials facility under construction, and the University of Arkansas' silicon carbide fabrication laboratory, the only openly accessible facility of its kind in the United States.
Yes. The 2026 program covers the facility types and decisions teams face this capital cycle, including:
- Research labs and renovation: The 80/20 lab renovation model proven at Syracuse University; Augusta University post-occupancy survey data
- Engineering facilities: UT Austin's 210,000-sf engineering research and teaching facility; FSU's interdisciplinary research and commercialization building
- AI + data science hubs: Penn's Amy Gutmann Hall, USC's Ginsburg Hall, Michigan State's convergence facility
- Quantum labs: Cornell's Duffield Complex with shared flexible quantum labs
- Cleanrooms and fabrication: University of Arkansas' 6,500-sf cleanroom semiconductor fab
- Sustainable construction: University of Michigan College of Pharmacy documenting a 40% embodied carbon reduction through mass timber
- Cost planning: Multi-scenario construction cost forecasts covering tariff volatility, labor, steel, copper, and lumber
Tradeline's 50-year track record of bringing together facility owners and end-users with the industry experts who help them move their facilities forward with confidence makes this conference stand apart. Speakers are the owners who delivered the buildings. Content includes real budgets, square footages, and post-occupancy results. The audience is owners and end-users — vendors participate only as sponsors or exhibitors.
Industry thought leaders from leading science and engineering institutions worldwide, plus national experts in architectural, engineering, and facility consulting. Speakers include facility directors, capital project managers, campus faculty, and leading architects and engineers specializing in science and research facilities.
No. Attendees do not need to select sessions in advance. Concurrent forums require no pre-selection — attendees build their own agenda on site. However, seating may be limited, so we recommend arriving early for the best seating options.
Yes. Tradeline is a Registered Provider with the AIA Continuing Education System. All sessions qualify for CEUs; some sessions qualify for HSW credit. Estimated 17 LU hours over 2 days. Attendance forms are provided on-site.
This in-depth, all-day session is held on Sunday, October 4 — the day before the main conference. Participants will come away with a basic understanding of the terminology, concepts, processes, standards, and types of labs, scientific equipment, and furniture involved in teaching and research facility planning and design. The course is highly interactive with Q&A throughout and serves as a primer for the two-day conference that follows.
Date: Sunday, October 4 · 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Cost: $1,375 (course only); $1,100 when added to conference registration
Designed for: project managers, facility planners and managers, lab managers, architects, engineers, construction engineers, faculty, researchers, and scientists at colleges, universities, and A/E/C firms.
Note: The Fundamentals Course is not included in conference registration and requires an additional fee.
A special access onsite post-conference tour is offered on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at Vanderbilt University Science & Engineering Facilities, providing a hands-on perspective on completed projects.
The full session schedule and agenda details are available on the conference website.
Registration includes all general sessions, a selection of forums, a welcome reception, two lunches, one breakfast, a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception, and daily refreshment breaks. Presentations will be made available for download to attendees. Hotel charges are paid directly to the hotel upon check-out.
Yes. Discounts are available for early registration, international attendees, and groups.
Early registration fees (through September 4, 2026):
- Individual: $1,800
- Team (2+ from the same organization): $1,500 per person
- Group of 5+: $1,400 per person
Team registrations may be submitted separately.
Registration is completed via the online registration form on our website.
No. Conference programming is entirely in-person.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing.
- More than 21 days before the event: Full refund
- 14–21 days before the event: $500 service fee
- Fewer than 14 days before the event: No refund
Substitutions are permitted at any time and must also be submitted in writing.
Yes. Select "Invoice Me" at checkout and an electronic invoice for payment by check will be sent to your email.
Omni Nashville
250 Rep. John Lewis Way South, Nashville, TN 37203
Conference rate: $369 + tax per night — available only by booking through Tradeline.
Room block available for October 2–6 (based on availability at time of registration).
Reserve at time of registration or contact [email protected] with questions. All hotel reservations are guaranteed. Cancellation notice required 72 hours in advance of arrival.
Hotel reservations at the conference rate must be made as part of the online registration process. To add a reservation after registering, or to change or cancel an existing reservation, contact [email protected].
No-shows and cancellations within 72 hours of arrival are subject to a charge equal to one night's stay. Extension of the conference rate beyond room block nights cannot be guaranteed — please inquire with the Registrar.
No. The conference registration fee does not include your hotel stay. Payment is made directly to the hotel, either upon check-in or at check-out.
Payment is arranged with the conference hotel upon check-in. If you need to pay in advance, contact the Conference Registrar at [email protected] for instructions.
Tradeline does not provide airport transportation. We recommend taxis or rideshare services, conveniently located outside airport baggage claim.
Nashville International Airport (BNA) is approximately 8 miles from the Omni Nashville. Estimated taxi/rideshare cost: $25–$40 each way.
Presentation and speaking sponsorship opportunities, along with submission deadlines, are available on the Tradeline website. Contact [email protected] with additional questions.
Tradeline conferences are produced for the benefit of building owners and end-users. You'll meet with senior leaders of organizations actively planning new capital and equipment initiatives who are looking for innovative and cost-effective solutions for their facilities.
Exhibit booth fee: $7,500 (with a $300 discount per booth for multiple-show bookings)
Includes: 2 conference registrations, additional discounted registrations, attendee lists, 6ft table with 2 chairs, WiFi, standard electrical, and more.
Yes. Opportunities for hosting conference meals and reception events are available.
Event sponsorship fees: $6,500–$7,100 (with a $300 discount per event for multiple-show bookings)
Includes: 2 conference registrations, additional discounted registrations, print and online promotions, corporate signage and displays, branded table sponsor, attendee lists, and post-conference materials.
Tradeline offers vendors and service providers integrated solutions designed to reach this audience, including email newsletters, website banner placements, digital and full-page color ads, directories, and co-branded hosted events.
Business casual attire is recommended.
- October 4: Pre-conference welcome reception (hosted bar, light appetizers)
- October 5: Continental breakfast, lunch, and networking reception (hosted bar, light appetizers)
- October 6: Full buffet breakfast and lunch
Both evening receptions (October 4 and 5) are open and complimentary to your guests. Meals are not included for guests. Guests are not permitted to attend meeting sessions or site tours.
Yes. Please indicate on your registration form if you are vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, or if you have an allergy we should be aware of. The conference hotel will do its best to accommodate you.
We're happy to help. Contact us at [email protected] or call 925-254-1744.