What is the deadline to enter?

All entries must be completed, submitted, and paid for in full no later than December 6, 2024.

Does my lab facility qualify for these awards?

Labs that have been completed and occupied anytime between January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2025 are eligible for this competition. Labs in any part of the world are eligible for this competition.

How long should my entry be?

Entries may not exceed 40 pages—this 40-page limit does not include the cover page, image lists, and photographer release form. You are not obligated to supply the full 40 pages. We encourage you to use your entry packet to tell us the story of your project—how it came to fruition, challenges you faced during the design process, how major stakeholders and end users were incorporated into the planning process, and what makes your lab project unique.

Who can I contact if I have questions, or problems with my entry?

You may contact the Design Excellence Awards at awards@labdesignconference.com with any questions. Any inquiries related to completing and submitting your entry must be received before the competition's deadline date of December 6, 2024.

Can you offer me feedback on my entry?

Individual feedback on submissions will not be offered. Please see our Guidelines and FAQ pages for information on how to submit your best possible entry.

Is there an entry fee?

Each entry is $300, for one category.

How many entries may I submit?

You may submit as many entries as you like, but each must be submitted and paid for separately.

May I enter the same lab in multiple categories?

Yes—the initial entry fee per lab is $300, to enter one category. If you wish to enter the same lab in two or three categories, the entry fee is $400. You only need to submit one entry packet for each lab you are entering, but your entry packet should contain detailed information about why you are submitting this lab for each category you have selected.

If I didn’t win in past competitions, may I submit this year? If I don’t win in 2025, may I submit next year? 

You may not submit the same facility in more than one competition. If you submitted a lab facility in the 2024 competition, you may not submit the same facility again in 2025. If your lab does not win the 2025 competition, you may submit a different facility in 2026, as long as it was completed and occupied within the specified time frame.

If you have recently completed a laboratory addition that is part of a previously submitted project, you may submit just the lab addition into this competition as long as the lab addition was completed and occupied within the specified time frame for this year's competition. Your entry packet may only contain information about this lab addition—nothing that was included in your prior submission for the entire building. This entry will be judged only by the recent lab addition. Any repeated information from previous submissions will disqualify this entry from the competition.

When will winners be announced?

Lab Design will proudly announce the winners of the Design Excellence Awards after the December 6, 2024 deadline. Winners will be alerted before the news is made public. The winners of each category will be mailed a plaque, or may opt to accept their plaque in person at the Lab Design Conference on May 12, 2025 in Denver, CO. Visit labdesignconference.com for more information and to register for this in-person conference. Any Honorable Mention winners will be mailed a certificate.

Will I be notified if my entry did not win?

Only winning teams will be notified. We are unable to provide individual feedback on any entries into this competition. We encourage you to contact us at awards@labdesignconference.com prior to the December 6, 2024 entry deadline if you have questions or concerns about your entry or any of the competition guidelines.

My lab facility is very small/ has a small budget/ isn’t from a big name company. Should I still enter?

Absolutely! We encourage labs of all sizes, budgets, and end purposes to enter this competition. Use your entry form to describe what makes your lab unique, how a small footprint works to your lab’s advantage, or how your design offers the most “bang for the buck.” Architects, engineers, construction companies, lab equipment suppliers/manufacturers, lab end users, and all others in the lab design/build field are encouraged to enter. Projects under $20 million USD are encouraged to enter the Small Project Design category.