The Self-Growing Lab (SGL) explores a living, bacterial-manufactured material genetically tuned for density, rigidity, and transparency, and, crucially, capable of self-growth applied over a lightweight structural space frame. Simple struts and nodes form floors, walls, and roof while also acting as conduits and contact points for sensors and nutrient inputs, enabling real-time feedback and material manipulation. This instrumented “skin” transforms the pavilion into an ongoing experiment, with embedded systems continuously retrieving data and informing genetic adjustments to the living envelope.

Conceived as a scalable Core Lab, the framework meets initial program needs and can expand as research or community uses evolve. Growth occurs through targeted genetic modulation of the skin and incremental additions of struts and nodes, allowing the SGL to extend beyond its host structure, such as the Smart Dock, to establish a public-facing presence and support investigations like solar harvesting. The Core Lab can be installed within, attached to, or independent of existing buildings, adapting to site constraints and opportunities.

Positioned as a model for the “school of the future,” the SGL advances a collaborative platform where design and science operate in tandem. It functions as part of an interdisciplinary incubator network at local, national, and global scales, prototyping in real contexts and engaging communities throughout the design process. Public participation in data collection and evaluation helps validate, refine, or redirect emerging ideas, aligning the work with societal needs through a holistic and sustainable approach.