Evolving scientific needs. Increased competition for talent. Carbon emissions. Against a backdrop of change, scientific research is undergoing a rapid transformation. So too should the buildings where these innovations take place. The "Live Lab" is a design approach for tomorrow's research spaces that relflect the organic nature of science itself to provide greater value for owners, tenants and the community.

Unlike the static, resource-intensive facilities of old, The Live Lab is grounded in longevity, health and sustainability. It envisions research buildings with no expiration date, that can evolve and get better over time. It aspires for scientists to leave the lab healthier than they arrived by putting their mental and physical wellbeing front and center. And it aims to give back to the planet by using fewer resources more intelligently.

Design Perspectives for Science

Given the costs of building and renovating labs, flexibility that can ensure longevity is critical. From open work neighborhoods that can expand and contract on demand, to flexible layouts for future growth, research buildings can be designed to be as dynamic as the work they support. This may require creative design thinking across a broader timeline, creating frameworks that enable labs to incorporate emerging and unforeseen technologies, and even shift to office or residential use as market needs change.

Resilient research buildings can withstand and thrive in a climate-changing environment, safeguarding critical work. Designing labs "upside down" by moving critical infrastructure onto higher floors protects against flooding in coastal areas, while sophisticated solutions like carbon negative research buildings reduce environmental harm. Whether through carbon reduction or green transit strategies, solar panels or even geothermal wells, all labs can make progress toward a healthier planet.

The idea that science buildings should prioritize longevity, health and sustainability is grounded in a first-of-its-kind survey of scientists NBBJ conducted with The New York Academy of Sciences. The survey—which explores critical topics like the importance of collaboration, the impact of technology and physical and mental wellbeing—is helping us apply new design insights to the labs of tomorrow.

Explore the Results Here

Sanofi’s new home at 450 Water brings renewed vitality to the Cambridge Crossing life science neighborhood. The building’s welcoming double-height lobby activates two distinct pedestrian experiences: the ground floor drop-off and the main elevator lobby at the upper plaza.

Work and Ideas

All Work and Ideas

The Works, Unity Campus

The Future Lab: What a Global Survey of Scientists Says About Tomorrow’s Research Buildings

UC San Diego Viterbi Family Vision Research Center

The Regenerative Lab. A Building That Evolves with the Speed of Research

University of Oxford, Life and Mind Building

A New Lease on Life: How Renewing Academic Labs Enhances Value and Amplifies Discovery

"Southern California life sciences company" **Confidential Client**

Southern California Life Sciences Company Headquarters

Henry Royce Institute

Interview

Facilitating Communication and Collaboration: A Conversation About Emerging Best Practices in Research Facilities

Abcam Headquarters

Brigham and Women’s Hale Building for Transformative Medicine

Article

How to Reposition Commercial Buildings to Meet Demand for the Life Science Boom

University of Southampton Life Sciences Building
Architect: NBBJ
Location: Southampton, England

The Life Sciences Building, University of Southampton

Science Leaders

Cathy Bell, AIA, LEED AP

Principal | Firmwide Education and Science Practice Leader

Darius Umrigar, RIBA

Principal I Firmwide Science and Higher Education Practice Leader

Ryan Mullenix, AIA

Partner | Firmwide Corporate Practice Leader

Rick Poulos

Principal | Director of Commercial Markets

Jonathan Wall

Principal | Science Market Leader

Featured Project

Henry Royce Institute

Located at the heart of the University of Manchester’s engineering campus, the Royce Institute engages scientists, industry and the public to illustrate the institute’s mission and provide a flexible environment for world-class research. The design showcases the science happening within, with laboratories revealing their complex workings to those on the outside.

View project