Construction has started on a new public health and environmental science laboratory at the State Secondary Complex in Dimondale, Michigan, US.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held to mark this commencement.
This facility will serve as a consolidated space for the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
The 300,000ft² laboratory is designed to enhance testing capabilities and foster a secure, efficient, and innovative working environment.
It will incorporate sustainable design features, such as a geothermal heating and cooling system and cross-laminated timber exterior panels, to minimise its carbon footprint.
The lab will also incorporate daylighting and energy-efficient LED lighting, as well as water-saving plumbing fixtures.
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget will oversee the building’s maintenance and operations.
EGLE director Phil Roos said: “More than ten million people rely on EGLE to monitor the quality of their air, soil, and water, and we serve as Michigan’s principal drinking water laboratory under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
“This new laboratory will increase the speed and efficiency of our handling of more than 100,000 samples and 2.5 million test results that EGLE currently processes every year, which is critical to protecting the public health of all Michiganders.”
The project’s total budget is $326m, with $260m provided via national funding through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
It is scheduled for completion by late 2026.
