Managing Director - London
07773 130057
Managing Director - Southern England
07712 870931
Head of Sales
07824 470190
16 Noel StLondon W1F 8DA
020 7734 4466
Find out more
43 Western RdBracknell RG12 1RT
01344 353 800
40 Berkeley SquareBristol BS8 1HP
Make an enquiry
Insight
Home Insights Trends shaping the future of scientific spaces
The science and technology sector is changing fast, driven by digitisation, new space needs and rising expectations from researchers and developers. This insight looks at how labs are adapting to this new landscape, from the move towards digital first workflows to the growing impact of scientific clusters across the UK.
James Turrell
Account Manager
Tuesday, 21st April 2026
2 minutes read time
The science and technology sector is going through a huge shift as digitisation and automation become the norm. Digital tools are changing how traditional labs work and how research is carried out. As workflows become more automated and data driven, many organisations are moving away from purely wet lab setups and towards models that combine hands on experimentation with advanced computation, AI driven analysis and digital workflows. This mix is not only improving efficiency, it’s also reshaping what labs need to support.
The rise of AI, machine learning and emerging technologies like quantum computing is pushing this shift even further. These tools require spaces that are digital ready by default, able to handle heavy data use, strong connectivity and integrated automated systems. As a result, the technical demands placed on buildings are becoming more complex and more critical to get right.
This has big implications for design. Traditional wet labs still depend on external plant areas for things like liquid nitrogen stores, gas manifolds and specialist water systems. But digital led research adds another layer of requirements, including larger network rooms, data centre style server spaces and significantly increased power and cooling needs.
All of this is driving labs to become more adaptable and futureproof, ready to handle both today’s needs and the demands still to come.
WaveOptics, Abingdon
As science becomes increasingly digital first, the spaces surrounding laboratories are changing just as rapidly. Life science and research organisations are now placing far greater emphasis on creating environments that attract people back into the workplace.
This shift is driving demand for a new generation of support spaces. Beyond technical plant and infrastructure, companies are investing in wellbeing areas, varied work settings, breakout zones and amenities that mirror the best of modern office environments. These spaces help teams spend more time onsite, strengthening collaboration and accelerating innovation across research programmes.
In many cases, these human centred areas are becoming just as critical to scientific success as the labs themselves. For developers and occupiers, ensuring a building can deliver both the required scientific infrastructure and the workplace experience people expect is now a key part of futureproofing any life science project.
Social spaces at Smith & Nephew, Croxley Green
Reception area at Riverlabs, Ware
Social spaces at Riverlabs, Ware
While regional differences once dictated the types of laboratories being developed, today’s trends are driven far more by scientific clustering. Research organisations, biotech firms and tech start ups increasingly want to be near others working in similar fields, creating environments where knowledge sharing and collaboration come naturally.
Clusters like the Golden Triangle, made up of Oxford, Cambridge and London, have become thriving ecosystems where scientists can exchange ideas, accelerate innovation and tap into shared resources. Today, it's now the network of likeminded organisations that shapes growth, attracts investment and supports scientific discovery.
Stanhope, Oxford North
Today’s clients expect more from their labs. End users want to work with designers who can help clarify their brief, anticipate future needs and shape a space that’s ready for the next wave of scientific development.
Developers and landlords are equally focused on flexibility, aiming to attract a broad range of life science and technology tenants with adaptable, high performance environments. Increasingly, both groups are looking for designs that minimise disruption, reduce long term operational costs and make it easier to adjust spaces as science advances. Overall, organisations want future ready labs that deliver strong value without stretching budgets.
Autodesk, Birmingham
Environmental performance is becoming increasingly important, although achieving sustainability in tightly controlled laboratory environments remains a challenge. Advancements in building management systems, energy monitoring and equipment control are helping reduce environmental impact without compromising scientific capability.
Digitisation is also unlocking significant efficiency gains and we’re still only at the beginning of that journey. Competition for scientific talent is also driving organisations to create spaces that attract and retain top researchers. The growing clusters of high quality laboratory environments across the South of the UK show how influential talent attraction has become in shaping the sector.
Riverlabs, Ware
The landscape of life sciences is shifting rapidly and the spaces that support discovery are changing with it. Digital first workflows, scientific ecosystems, new infrastructure demands and rising expectations are all reshaping what a modern lab needs to be. Meanwhile, sustainability pressures and competition for talent are pushing organisations to create environments that perform better, adapt faster and inspire people to return.
Get in touch to start the conversation.
View insight