Strong Foundations: Building Understanding Through Lab Programming | Lab Design Conference 2026

Ask a researcher what they need in a lab and you might get a vague answer. Ask the right questions — and you unlock everything. Kelly Smyth, Associate Director of Lab Planning at Genesis AEC, presented this session at the 2026 Lab Design Conference, demonstrating that great lab design isn’t just about the design. It’s about what gets discovered in programming. In this session you’ll learn: → How to understand scientific workflows and research methods before design begins → Strategies for gathering and organizing programming data that drives stronger decisions → How to identify health, safety, and operational risks early in planning → How to align lab workflows with infrastructure, engineering controls, and code requirements A successful lab project starts long before drawings hit the page. This session shows you how to build the foundation right — from day one. Learn more about Genesis AEC at www.genesisaec.com