Let’s dive into the results and what we learned.
What Do Scientists Want in a Lab? Start with Collaboration
Understanding what scientists want most is central to designing better research buildings. To illuminate this topic, our survey started by asking scientists to evaluate what they would prioritize most in the lab environment of the future.
Which elements are most important to you in your primary research building?
Scientists valued collaborative space above all (even physical comfort), followed by individual work areas.
Respondents could pick three options.
Which discipline values collaborative space the most?
Life scientists.
What about differences between academia and industry?
Industry professionals want space for socialization and building connections.
Respondents could pick three.
Which amenities are most important to you to have in and around your primary science building?
As the previous answer showed, scientists value elements like collaborative space that are often considered amenities. When asked more specifically about different types of amenities, scientists overall valued those that simplify their lives like easy transit and food and drink options, followed by wellness-focused amenities. Though answers varied by discipline, with life scientists valuing transit, and social scientists prioritizing green space.
Proximity to Researchers—Even at Other Institutions—Is Paramount
As technologies and remote work make research more diffuse, research buildings have an increasingly important role to play in building relationships among scientists and allied organizations—as suggested by the high priority scientists put on collaborative space.
While all scientists in our survey find value being near colleagues, their opinions on the value of proximity to scientists outside their organization varies by discipline, with engineers valuing it to the highest degree. Research buildings have an opportunity to build on this insight by designing spaces that make easier and more enjoyable to build these types of personal connections.
How important is it for you to be in close proximity (e.g. within walkable distance) to colleagues and outside scientists?
Scientists Think Labs Can Do More to Support Wellbeing
With scientists facing elevated rates of mental illness, the role of the physical environment in promoting wellbeing should not be overlooked. To explore this topic, the survey asked scientists to evaluate their current building’s impact on their wellbeing.
Scientists were mixed at best on whether their current buildings support their wellbeing, with the average answer hovering right around the middle on a five point scale. Life scientists tended to rate their buildings lower than other disciplines did.
How well does your primary science building support your physical and mental wellbeing?
A significant portion of respondents say their research buildings do not support wellbeing. That means it's clear buildings could do more to support healthy scientists, especially considering scientists face higher levels of mental health illness than the general public. Even seemingly modest interventions like introducing more natural elements can increase self-reported wellbeing and creativity by 15%. This is just the tip of the iceberg. How can labs evolve to better support scientists' wellbeing? We believe part of the answer lies in neuroscience.
Interested in viewing the full survey, which contains all questions and responses with additional demographic breakdowns? Please enter your name, title, company and email to receive a link to the report.
NBBJ U.S.
Cathy Bell
Principal
Partnering with NBBJ Fellow and developmental molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, we are researching and applying a range of design strategies, grounded in neuroscience research, that improve physical and mental wellbeing in research buildings. Click the +'s below to learn more.
49.7%
47.3%
43.4%
41.5%
41.3%
40.7%
33.4%
Space to collaborate with others
Adequate space for individual work
The flexibility and customizability to meet your needs
Space to socialize and build connections
Physical comfort (including elements like seating, temperature and air quality)
Views of nature or outdoors
Convenient amenities
Food and Drink Options
Convenient Transit Options
Parks and Green Space
Gym and Fitness Centers
Entertainment and Leisure Options
Child & Family Care
26.2%
32.5%
35.1%
54.3%
55.1%
59.8%
Applying These Insights
Stress is often related to a perceived lack of control over a situation or environment—giving people the ability to adapt their surroundings can help.
Nature has a demonstrable impact on wellbeing—natural materials, daylight, views of greenspace and outdoor areas all play an important role.
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Or ready to explore what these insights mean for space optimization, performance and amenity strategies for your research building?
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NBBJ GLOBAL
DARIUS UMRIGAR
Principal
Can't Wait? Learn More Today.
Pharmacies and Convenience Stores
34.6%
Our survey asked scientists what they want most. Here are a few examples of what they said in their own words.
Outdoor research terraces and green spaces for meetings, brainstorming sessions and team-building activities."
Academics want physical comfort.
Providing spaces for movement and exercise are a key element in preventing behavioral health issues.
Convenience topped the charts
Wellness followed
What about differences between academia and industry?
Which discipline values collaborative space the most?
Industry professionals: value socialization and building connections more.
Academics: value physical comfort more.
Percent who say proximity to colleagues is important
Percent who say proximity to outside scientists is important
We Asked:
We Asked:
We Asked:
Life scientists.
What do scientists say they want in their labs?
We Asked:
Respondents were asked to rank from 1 to 5.
Which discipline values collaborative space the most?
Life scientists, likely due to the interdisciplinary nature of life science research, put a premium on collaborative space.
What about differences between academia and industry?
Academic scientists value physical comfort more, perhaps because their work requires long hours of grant writing, lecture prep and grading.
Industry professionals value socialization more, likley due to the numerous departments they need to collaborate with to do their work.
Applying These Insights
Given the value scientists place on being near colleagues and outside scientists, research buildings have an important opportunity to enhance relationship building, collaboration and sense of community. Amenities, social areas and outdoor spaces can become key differentiators that attract talent by enabling scientists to connect both inside and outside the lab.
Landscape is often a secondary priority in research buildings given labs’ intensive technical requirements. But outdoor spaces can play a significant role in creating space for activities like socialization, informal collaboration and chance encounters that typically happen indoors. Rooftop gardens, walking paths, nature preserves and indoor outdoor spaces can provide views of nature and fresh air that enhance productivity and provide informal ways to connect.
The Future Lab
The Future Lab
A Survey About Science Building Design
Understanding scientist needs is critical to ensure research buildings are sound real estate investments that promote investigation, breakthroughs and wellbeing. And yet despite $4.5 billion spent on lab construction in 2020-2021 and another $90 billion in the next 10 years, until now, no comprehensive survey has been conducted to understand what scientists want in their research spaces.
When paired with design solutions, our survey—which polled 1,059 scientists from The New York Academy of Sciences global community throughout the summer of 2024—provides valuable insights as to how research buildings can be built differently. And as the results below show, more than 65% of respondents say the design of their primary research building would positively impact their decision to work for an employer.
North America 71%
Europe 8%
Asia 12%
Africa 5%
South America
2%
Australia and Oceania
2%
Professional
20+ Years
10-20 Years
>10 Years
Student
Postdoc
Graduate student
Undergraduate student
High school student
Academia
20+ Years
10-20 Years
>10 Years
50%
29%
21%
Yes
76%
No
24%
Life
Sciences
Engineering
Chemical
Sciences
Social
Sciences
Environ.
Sciences
Other, inc. Physical Sciences
Geographic Region
Career Stage & Sector
Scientific Discipline
Actively Work in a Lab
Below, we analyze results from the 20-question survey through a thematic lens, focused first on how personal and relational needs of scientists can affect research building design. In the next iteration of this site in January 2025, we’ll dive into the impact remote work, technology and sustainability will have on these real estate facilities in the future. If you’d like to see the full survey results now, you can download a PDF at the top of this website.
Key Survey Insights
Technological Change Requires Rethinking the Cluster
Labs Are Flexible Enough for Today, But Not For Tomorrow
Researchers Desire More Sustainable Buildings
What Do Scientists Want in a Lab? Start with Collaboration
Proximity to Researchers—Even At Other Institutions—is Paramount
Scientists Think Buildings Can Do More to Support Wellbeing
Up Next!
These are the aspirations scientists have for future research buildings as reported in a new survey of scientists by architecture firm NBBJ and The New York Academy of Sciences.
A lab designed for collaboration
A healthy, sustainable research building that simplifies scientists' lives
Flexibility to effortlessly adapt to any research need
A dedicated space for industry partnerships and collaborations to facilitate real-world experiences for students."
Dynamic wayfinding systems and interactive maps to help navigate the building, locate resources, and connect with colleagues."
More common space for interacting with colleagues."
What do scientists say they want in their labs?
Each laboratory and office area should have windows with a view of the outside."
Wellness amenities such as fitness centers or meditation room."
Average
Connect to Nature
Support personal agency
Stress is often related to a perceived lack of control over a situation or environment—giving people the ability to adapt their surroundings can help.
Encourage movement Providing spaces for movement and exercise are a key element in preventing behavioral health issues.
Encourage Movement
Support Personal Agency
Why a Survey of Scientists?
Who We Surveyed
Up Next!
Stay tuned for more survey insights in January, covering the following three themes:
Outside the organization
Inside the organization
Download the Full Survey Data
CONTACT
CONTACT
Download the Full Survey Data
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Scientists say building design impacts where they want to work
65%
Technological Change Requires Rethinking the Cluster
Labs Are Flexible Enough for Today, But Not For Tomorrow
Researchers Desire More Sustainable Buildings
Available Now:
Get the Survey Results
Get the Survey Results