Laboratory: Research

The Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement at Caltech in Pasadena will house sections of the physics department in subterranean labs filled with specialized space for experimentalists who require unique instrumentation with stringent specifications, which in large part drove the design of the facility. The four upper levels of the new 70,000-sf facility will include multipurpose space for seminars, lectures, and special events; and office workspace for theoretical physicists.

The New Education and Research Building (NERB) at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School has emerged as a sustainable, high-performance medical research facility that is energy efficient in a demanding climate. Beyond its brilliant façade lie 350,000 sf of light-filled lab and work spaces spanning nine floors, servicing the departments of gene therapy/genetics, molecular medicine, neurobiology, and neurology/neurosurgery. A sustainability leader in the region, the building is designed to have a very low annual energy usage intensity (EUI) of 130 kBtu/sq-yr. It is expected to achieve LEED Gold Certification and be net-zero ready for energy and carbon.

Virginia Tech opened the first building on its Innovation Campus in Alexandria in January of 2025. SmithGroup designed the 300,000-gsf facility to provide leading-edge environments for academic and research programs in computer science and engineering, as well as space for the Pamplin College of Business. Featuring specialized laboratories, a drone testing cage, and a two-story maker space, the 11-story development houses 14 classrooms, wellness venues for students and faculty, and the 3,000-sf Boeing Auditorium.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is building a $105 million health sciences building for the School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing. Designed by LJC and Christner Architects, the 176,000-sf facility will offer teaching and research labs, a vivarium, and modern classrooms and study areas. As well as administrative offices, the three-story structure will accommodate programs in pharmacogenomics, synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology.

Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed), home to North America’s largest baboon population dedicated to research, has opened a new primate research facility focused on animal welfare, human safety, and operational efficiency as guiding principles. The new Animal Care Complex (ACC) includes three modular breeding and holding facilities, each with a capacity of up to 300 animals of multiple species. The spacious facility has five indoor rooms which range from 400 to 800 sf, and outdoor yards as big as 5,500 sf. 

The past few decades have brought myriad technological changes to our daily lives, and experts predict the pace of change will only increase—especially in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Much of the talk surrounding AI focuses on automating repetitive processes and analyzing data, which require additional computational power but not necessarily structural modifications. But emerging technologies, including AI and robotics, may require universities and companies to rethink their approach to designing and planning buildings and labs.

The University of Salford is planning to construct a world-class facility for the Acoustics Department’s teaching, research, and commercial activities on the Peel Park campus in the United Kingdom. Furthering the institution's global reputation for acoustics and sound engineering, the purpose-built facility will feature environments that meet the highest technical specifications and measurement standards. Flexible instructional spaces will be complemented by sophisticated labs and research venues to support one of the largest acoustics research groups in the world.

Clemson University broke ground in November of 2024 on the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine in Clemson, S.C. Addressing a critical shortage of veterinarians in the state and the nation, the $285 million project will enable a distributed pedagogical model that prepares students to go directly to local animal hospitals for training and clinical study. By leveraging partnerships with industry and existing regional assets, this strategy is expected to save the university more than $350 million in capital costs and $60 million in operational costs. 

The fast-moving nature of biotechnology innovation means architects and designers for Regeneron have to plan for researchers’ requirements to change by the time new laboratories open on the Tarrytown, N.Y., campus. The campus is undergoing a $1.8 billion expansion, adding 900,000 sf of new laboratory and office space, along with additional parking, amenities, and infrastructure to support research and development. The new laboratories will be able to evolve as the biotech industry finds new ways to use artificial intelligence, CRISPR genome editing technology, robotics, and other advances.

Construction began in November of 2024 on the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC) in Moncton, New Brunswick. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in association with EXP, the adaptive reuse project will transform the existing Gulf Fisheries Centre into a four-story complex equipped with leading-edge laboratories and technologies.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) broke ground on the Agricultural Research and Technology Center in October of 2024. Consolidating labs currently located at the University of California, Davis, the $76 million facility will enable the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to continue its long-standing research collaboration with the institution.

University of Arizona Health Sciences broke ground in late October of 2024 on the Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies (CAMI). Delivered by the design-build team of SmithGroup and McCarthy Building Companies, the transformational project will serve as a physical and metaphorical gateway to the Downtown Phoenix district and the Phoenix Bioscience Core.

The Canadian Centre for Advanced Material Manufacturing (CCAM) opened in Mississauga in fall of 2024. The transformation of the existing building was designed by the Canada FIRST joint venture, a collaboration between HOK, Architecture49, and WSP. The ambitious project represents the first milestone in the Laboratories Canada program, a strategic initiative by the federal government aimed at modernizing and enhancing science facilities across the nation.

Stanford University is building a consolidated home for the Graduate School of Education that will accelerate the creation of innovative new pedagogies and learning modalities. William Rawn Associates and CAW Architects designed the approximately 150,000-sf project, which includes the construction of a four-story, 42,700-sf structure. The three-story, 97,547-sf Graduate Education Building is also undergoing a complete renovation.

The University of Arizona opened the $99 million Grand Challenges Research Building (GCRB) in October of 2024 in Tucson. Designed by ZGF Architects and BWS Architects, the 115,000-sf facility offers flexible labs for programs in optics, quantum computing, advanced communications, and biomedicine. With instructional venues, study areas, and meeting rooms strategically located on the ground floor, the seven-story project features robust maker spaces and advanced instrumentation suites to drive interdisciplinary discovery.