In an interview, LPA Director of Laboratory Planning Isabel Mandujano highlights North Texas’ biotech boom — and the facilities needed to power it.
An excerpt of the following appeared in Invest: Dallas-Fort Worth.
Invest: Dallas-Fort Worth: Building a Biotech Hub, with Isabel Mandujano
What are some of the significant achievements for LPA this past year?
Isabel Mandujano: LPA was recently named the winner of the AIA 2025 Architecture Firm Award. That’s the highest honor the American Institute of Architects can bestow on a design firm, and it’s given by our peers, which makes it even more meaningful. They called us “a trailblazer in sustainable, high-performance design” and said we “set the standard for the profession.”
We’re also celebrating our 60th year in business, and we just hit 500 employees. All this is a testament to the trust of our clients, and the endless creativity that’s possible when architects, engineers, landscape architects, interior designers and researchers come together in an integrated team.
Could you tell us more about your role in laboratory planning at LPA?
I’m an architect by training and serve as the Director of Laboratory Planning at LPA, leading a team of dedicated professionals with a unique focus on programming and design of laboratory spaces. I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects from coast to coast—in Florida, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and San Diego, among others. However, Dallas is home for me, and I’ve been inspired by the biotech renaissance happening here in North Texas.
What unique advantages does North Texas offer in attracting life sciences companies?
Last year, North Texas was awarded the ARPA-H customer service facility, which is a huge milestone. There’s also the momentum created by BioLabs moving into Pegasus Park, a project I was fortunate to work on. Now, with developments like TRQ in Plano and master plans in DeSoto and Mansfield, we’re seeing a snowball effect of new opportunities. North Texas is positioning itself as a major biotech hub, both nationally and internationally, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
Through my involvement with industry groups like BioNTX, the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), and the Dallas Regional Chamber, I’ve gained insights from experts in the field.
What makes North Texas stand out is its business-friendly environment. It’s an affordable place to live compared to the coasts—cities like Boston and San Diego are much more expensive, making it challenging for startups to gain traction. Texas, on the other hand, offers affordability and an attractive quality of life, which helps companies recruit and retain top talent.
Another key factor is the collaborative spirit here. Organizations, universities, and economic development corporations (EDCs) are all working together to create an ecosystem that fosters growth rather than competition. The region has the right mix of talent, educational institutions, and support from EDCs to help startups launch and stay rooted in the area. It truly takes a village, and North Texas has that cohesive community driving biotech growth.
What trends are you seeing in laboratory design?
There’s been a strong emphasis on incubator labs — spaces that support early-stage startups emerging from universities with groundbreaking ideas and a need to commercialize them.
In addition to attracting large, established companies relocating from the coasts, there’s a critical need to address what I call the “missing middle.” This refers to companies that have moved past the incubator stage and are gaining traction but aren’t quite ready to invest in their own ground-up facilities. These businesses need affordable, flexible lease spaces designed for scientific work — because you can’t do science in a garage or standard office space.
Currently, North Texas has a limited supply of specialized lab spaces that cater to this middle stage of growth. If there are any investors listening, this is a major opportunity. Providing the right facilities would allow these emerging companies to scale up and stay in the region rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere.
What are the critical infrastructure requirements for converting existing buildings into specialized lab spaces?
When there’s a lack of available real estate that meets these specific requirements, we’re often left with conversion projects. That means transforming buildings originally designed for offices, warehouses, or other uses into functional lab spaces. Essentially, we're taking existing structures and adding the necessary infrastructure to support scientific work.
What I always emphasize is that it's not about the visible elements — like finishes or furniture — but rather the behind-the-scenes infrastructure. The critical components are things you don’t see, such as systems on the roof, inside the walls, and above the ceiling. It really comes down to specialized air systems, with higher ventilation rates and specialty gases that labs require. These spaces also demand more plumbing capacity than a typical office, along with increased water supply.
Electrical power is another major factor. With advancements in technology and AI, scientific instruments generate vast amounts of data and require higher power densities. These machines often run 24/7, which means backup power is crucial — losing power could mean losing months of valuable research.
Additionally, there are logistical needs, such as dedicated spaces for handling specialized waste, as well as shipping and receiving areas for daily sample deliveries. While these elements can be incorporated into almost any building, cost becomes a challenge — especially for early-stage companies. Startups typically prefer to allocate funds toward instruments and talent rather than expensive facility upgrades, and that’s one of the key hurdles we’re facing in the market.
Designing complex lab spaces requires input from a wide range of experts — architects, lab planners, engineers, contractors, developers, and, of course, the scientists themselves. The key to success is bringing everyone to the table early in the process, learning from each other, and ensuring all perspectives are considered. These projects are most successful when approached as an integrated effort, and as an integrated design firm, LPA is uniquely positioned to deliver on that front.
What is your outlook for North Texas — how do you see the life sciences ecosystem evolving over the next few years?
There’s a lot of promising technology shaping the future of medicine, especially with the rise of personalized medicine. You’ve probably heard other experts mention advancements in cell and gene therapy. From my understanding, these treatments are tailored for individuals — developed specifically for their genetic makeup or to target their unique type of cancer.
Recently, many of my projects have involved next-generation sequencing labs, which are revolutionizing how quickly we can identify effective treatments. This technology is accelerating the discovery process, making it faster to move from candidate medications to personalized solutions. AI is playing a significant role in this by helping researchers analyze massive data sets more efficiently.
I once heard someone say that AI is like burning down the haystack to find the needle — allowing us to pinpoint the right treatment much faster. It’s exciting to think that we may soon have solutions for diseases that currently lack effective treatments, such as neurological disorders, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and genetic conditions. The future holds incredible potential for improving lives.
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