Key Insights from the 2026 I2SL Conference

S+T Perspectives Newsletter: October 2026

How to reduce energy use while still meeting sustainability goals and supporting high-performance research environments was a key focus of the 2026 International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) Conference in Boston. Hixson Project Architect Shuting Zhao and Mechanical Engineer Will Hochleutner recently attended this year’s conference to explore emerging strategies and technologies shaping the future of sustainable laboratory design.

“One of the biggest themes at the show was finding ways to reduce energy consumption without compromising laboratory performance or safety,” said Shuting. That message was reinforced through examples of retro-commissioning projects, HVAC system optimizations, and collaborative planning efforts. “The overarching idea, and something Hixson advocates for on our projects, is that achieving meaningful project goals – including sustainability –requires early coordination among all project stakeholders,” said Shuting. “It is crucial to bring together facility managers, researchers, safety professionals, and design teams early in the process to identify opportunities for improved performance and long-term efficiency.”

Will noted that electrification and decarbonization were major themes throughout the conference. “Many organizations are moving away from fossil-fuel-based systems and evaluating energy recovery solutions wherever practical,” he said. Those efforts often go hand in hand with broader strategies to improve building performance and reduce energy consumption. “During a tour of Harvard’s new Science and Engineering Complex, we saw these systems on full display, such as utilizing a high-efficiency Konvekta heat recovery system combined with a fogging type indirect evaporative cooling system designed to support a highly controlled laboratory environment while reducing energy demand,” said Will.

The conference also explored how laboratories are preparing for growing electrical demands driven by research, technology, and AI-related infrastructure. “Resilience is becoming just as important as sustainability,” said Shuting. “There was a lot of discussion around battery storage and how facilities can better manage peak loads while maintaining critical operations. Institutions are increasingly evaluating on-site energy storage systems as a way to improve reliability, reduce costs, and support long-term sustainability objectives.”

Technology and automation were additional areas of focus. “Smart building systems equipped with sensors and advanced controls are helping laboratories operate more efficiently by monitoring occupancy, air quality, and equipment performance in real time,” noted Will. Meanwhile, discussions about robotics and automated laboratory processes emphasized the need to plan for supporting utilities such as power, cooling, and compressed air early in the design process.

From electrification and resilience to energy performance and automation, the conference highlighted a broader industry shift toward laboratories that are not only efficient and sustainable, but also smarter and more adaptable. “All in all, the conference provided a valuable look at where laboratory design is headed,” said Shuting. “The common thread across nearly every session was the importance of creating facilities that can support end goals while using resources more responsibly.”

Attendance at conferences such as I2SL is part of Hixson’s commitment to professional development and helps our teams bring new ideas, insights, and industry best practices to client projects. Learn more about this commitment here.