Explore the Agenda

7:15 am Check-in, Networking & Coffee & Breakfast

8:00 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Strengthening Partnerships with Reliable, Skilled Teams

8:10 am Understanding Pharma Construction Priorities: What Makes a Project Partner Standout?

Associate Director of Engineering, Design & Construction, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
  • Identifying key owner expectations early to tailor delivery strategies and build trust for repeat work
  • Understanding the value of transparent communication on project costs, schedules, and change orders during bidding to strengthen client relationships
  • Evaluating how project partners can expand their service offerings to include early advisory, site selection, and risk evaluation to become a preferred long-term partner

8:50 am Panel Discussion: Building Skilled Project Teams at a Time Where Demand Exceeds Supply to Meet Specialized Life Science Demands

Vice President of Life Sciences, Gilbane Building Company
Core Markets Supply Chain Lead, DPR Construction
Director, BW Design Group
Director of Life Sciences, Turner & Townsend
  • Developing local talent pipelines in emerging biopharma hubs to expand skilled labor access, reducing the risk of project delays due to labor shortages
  • Investing in life science specific training to guarantee GMP standards are met at turnover
  • Ensuring all trades have the specialized skillset across cleanroom, process, and electrical equipment to ensure compliance across GMP environments

10:00 am Morning Refreshments & Networking

Optimizing Facility Performance

10:40 am Case Study: Standardizing Data & Leveraging Advanced Digital Tools to Streamline Capital Project Workflows & Deliver Accurate, Data-Rich Handovers

Associate Director of GTS Digital Strategy, Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Establishing consistent asset and equipment data requirements across facilities to reduce coordination complexity, lower subcontractor costs, and meet handover expectations
  • Structuring project data from design through construction to eliminate manual rework and accelerate speed to market
  • Aligning digital platforms and project team data needs to enhance collaboration and support long-term operational readiness

11:20 am Case Study: Integrating Complex Systems Into Legacy Facilities to Retrofit Life Science Buildings Efficiently While Maintaining Operational Continuity

Principal & Director of Life Science Practice, Mancini Duffy
Principal, PAE
  • Navigating legacy infrastructure constraints to integrate modern systems while minimizing disruption to active operations
  • Adapting design expectations to existing infrastructure to ensure retrofit constructability
  • Conducting thorough assessments of existing conditions to identify viable connection points and efficient installation

12:00 pm Lunch Break

Driving Success with Regulatory Confidence

1:00 pm Driving Construction Execution & Project Controls Success from a Client Perspective

Senior Director - Southeast U.S. Delivery Team, Merck & Co
Senior Director - Southeast U.S. Delivery Team, Merck & Co
  • Establishing client-led project controls to maintain visibility over cost, schedule, quality and safety performance
  • Implementing proactive field oversight and accountability measures to ensure construction stays aligned with design intent and compliance standards
  • Streamlining turnover and commissioning processes to deliver fully validated, operationally ready facilities on schedule

1:40 pm Sequencing Specialized Trades to Clarify Dependencies & Avoid Onsite Disruptions

Regional Project Director, HT Lyons Inc
  • Building a project sequence to align trades across process piping and cleanroom HVAC, to automation and controls, and ensure trade handoffs support commissioning and validation readiness
  • Resolving recurring onsite issues, such as hot and chilled water loop conflicts, or exhaust and air pressure balancing to ensure installation workflows avoid resequencing
  • Coordinating installation workflows with timely owner input and change orders to reduce field disruptions and ensure construction quality

2:20 pm Audience Discussion: Building a Rigorous Commissioning, Qualification & Validation (CQV) Process to Meet Stringent Quality & Regulatory Standards

  • Aligning qualification workflows with evolving FDA and EMA standards to ensure accurate and consistent facility validation
  • Transitioning from paper-based processes to digital systems to reduce manual effort for regulatory compliance and accelerate facility handover
  • Implementing cross-functional review checkpoints to catch issues early, ensuring compliance and maintaining project timelines

3:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

3:10 pm End of Conference