Life science leaders are recognizing that laboratory design and infrastructure can be a secret weapon in enabling innovation—capable of responding to rapidly advancing research demands, technological innovation, and shifting workforce expectations, according to a new Unispace Life Sciences survey report on lab design development.

The survey, fielded in May 2025, explored the perspectives of 400 senior and mid-level decision-makers across the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland, Switzerland, and India, spanning biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical technology.

Perceptions of how current lab environments enable innovation are markedly positive among U.S. life science executives compared to their global peers—they have a strong sense of confidence in the capability and resilience of U.S. lab workspaces, particularly in terms of its adaptability for growth (67%) and integration of new technologies (63%).

U.S. labs are also more likely to cite “flexible, modular spaces” as a key driver shaping lab design—61% of US executives identify this as a critical driver compared to 53% of their global counterparts.

Despite this positive sentiment, the U.S. sector faces headwinds in terms of future capital planning. More than half (52%) of executives in this region express apprehension that there will be a return on investment when deciding to fund new life sciences facilities.

“U.S. life science executives believe they have the winning formula when it comes to designing labs that will support their organization’s speed-to-market goals,” said Alicia Inman, Principal, Life Sciences, Americas. “However, the bigger challenge is making the upfront investment in the new facility itself due to the current economic climate,” she said.

Designed to Spark Innovation

To enable innovation, respondents cited the following three features as the most important in a life sciences workplace:

• Digitally integrated, using AI and smart technologies. Respondents highlighted the growing role of technologies such as IoT, AI, and digital simulation tools in transforming laboratory operations. Innovations like digital twins and virtual/augmented reality are enabling new possibilities for simulation, remote collaboration, and training—especially valuable for laboratories operating in decentralized or resource-constrained environments.
• Highly flexible, with modular spaces that scale with shifting needs. Mobile benching and modular infrastructure allow labs to accommodate shifting equipment requirements and emerging technologies. Designing for a variety of bench specifications enables flexibility across a broader range of research applications, while a shift in the wet lab-to-dry lab ratio—and between lab and office space—should be anticipated as research needs change.
• Optimized for seamless cross-functional collaboration. Collaboration is at the heart of modern lab design, with open, shared spaces and dedicated zones key to enabling interdisciplinary teamwork and driving research excellence. Nearly half of respondents see purpose-built collaboration areas as vital for employee satisfaction, enhanced with features such as flexible workspaces, ergonomic furniture, natural light, and biophilic design elements.

In addition to enabling innovation, respondents cited “embedding sustainability” as one of the top factors informing their lab workplace design strategy, driven by mounting regulatory pressures, investor demands, and internal commitments to climate goals. Leaders flagged issues such as emissions control, hazardous and biowaste disposal, and overall environmental compliance as pain points that must be addressed early in lab planning.

“It’s now table-stakes for labs to incorporate eco-friendly construction materials, smart lighting, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and innovative waste and water management strategies in any new build,” said Inman.

About Unispace Life Sciences

Unispace Life Sciences, part of Unispace Group, creates future-ready environments for the world’s most innovative science-led organizations. With deep sector expertise and a science‑first mindset, we deliver strategy, design, and construction solutions for laboratory and workplace environments across biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical technology, and healthcare industries.