Chris Small came to laboratory facilities through an engineering door with a talent for project management. He loves that each lab project is unique, high on the complexity scale, and that success depends on connecting the right people to get to the right solution. Chris particularly loves ag-biotech because of his family’s farming roots. In studying and learning about ag-biotech design, from greenhouses to plant science labs, he has had opportunities to travel and learn best practices from around the world, honing systems for some greenhouse projects that have become the industry standard. His projects have been recognized for inspiring interdisciplinary collaboration and for attracting and retaining top talent.  In 15 years of leading design teams in the private and university sectors, Chris enjoys developing deep relationships with clients, becoming a partner and trusted advisor for projects big or small, while supporting great design in the lab process. A respected authority on research facilities, Chris is a recurring speaker at the Lab Design Conference, a premier industry event.

• Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University

“Each project is a different great cause, from gene therapy to fighting world hunger. If we can do our piece really well, we can contribute.”