Project Name:
New Multi-Agency Laboratory Facility
Project Scope:
A multi-story, 250,000 square foot, centralized state laboratory campus that will be home to multiple agencies (DHSS, DNR, MDA, MDC, and MSHP) to provide one approach to human, animal, environmental and criminal testing in Missouri, which will enable the aforementioned agencies to share relative information, expertise, equipment, supplies, and support services. This will allow these agencies to better serve the public now and in the future. This facility will include adequate, secure parking for any state-owned vehicles used by laboratory staff and the private vehicles of employees and visitors.
Estimated Project Cost:
$183 million
Estimated Project Timeline:
Estimated Completion: December 2026
Project Background:
The State of Missouri currently has four laboratory facilities in Jefferson City: Missouri Public Health Laboratory; Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Services Program Laboratory; Department of Conservation Laboratory; and, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Forensic Crime Laboratory.
At the Missouri Public Health Laboratory, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) provides investigative and testing services related to public health and disease (human clinical and environmental), and the Department of Agriculture (MDA) provides investigative and testing services to issues related to animal health and disease (livestock industries).
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Environmental Services Program provides investigative and laboratory testing services related to environmental health and disease (water and air quality, hazardous waste and environmental emergency response).
The Department of Conservation (MDC) provides investigative and laboratory testing services related to wildlife disease (necropsy testing on mammals and aquatic animals and fish for ecological health).
The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Forensic Crime Laboratory provides forensic evidence testing and verification related to crimes and criminal activity for the state and over 600 local law enforcement agencies.
Each of the State’s current laboratory facilities is aging and becoming outdated, which hampers productivity, efficiency, and the adoption of new technologies. Furthermore, the fact that the laboratories are in different locations inhibits/prevents the effectiveness of knowledge and technological collaboration between the various agencies.
Goals:
The design goal for the new multi-agency laboratory facility is to create a technologically advanced laboratory building serving as a place for consistent science to occur, fostering innovation, collaboration, and the advancement of scientific knowledge across various disciplines. It includes collaborative areas, meeting rooms, wellness rooms and field support rooms that are equipped with interactive displays and video conferencing facilities to encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and knowledge sharing among researchers both within each agency and with other agencies.
The new multi-agency laboratory facility shall meet industry standards and accreditation requirements for laboratory testing related to public health, animal health, wildlife health, environmental health and forensic/evidence.
The new multi-agency laboratory facility shall be designed to incorporates energy-efficient MEP systems, heat recovery, chilled water cooling, water saving plumbing fixtures and continuous exterior envelope building insulation to reduce its carbon footprint. It shall also integrates environmental control systems to maintain optimal temperature, humidity, and air quality levels as needed in each particular laboratory to ensure the integrity of research samples and experiments.
The new multi-agency laboratory facility shall be equipped with highly integrated infrastructure, including cold rooms, biological safety cabinets, chemical fume hoods, laminar flow hoods, clean rooms, and specialized workstations to support the agencies disciplines and their specific requirements.
The new multi-agency laboratory facility shall employ special security measures for the agencies to be able to do the work required. This includes whole building coordinated exterior and interior access control, video, connection to local and State agencies and chain of custody tracking for all lab samples. These measures are in place to ensure the safety and integrity of sensitive data and materials. The facility shall also implement safety protocols and feature comprehensive emergency response systems, including fire suppression systems, emergency exits, and protocols for hazardous material handling, protecting the building occupants and the surrounding community.
The new multi-agency laboratory facility shall be designed, constructed and completed by December 2026, in accordance with ARPA funding allocated to this project.