Albany, New York — Construction has officially begun on New York State’s new $1.7 billion Wadsworth Center Laboratory, a state-of-the-art public health facility designed to strengthen the state’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging public health threats. The project is being delivered through a design-build partnership led by Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, with HOK serving as design partner. The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2030.
Located on the W. Averell Harriman Campus in Albany, the five-story, 663,000-square-foot laboratory will consolidate five existing Wadsworth Center sites across the Greater Albany area into a single, modern campus. The new facility will enhance collaboration, improve operational efficiency, and support nearly 800 scientists and staff working at one of the nation’s largest and most diverse state public health laboratories.
Governor Kathy Hochul described the project as a critical investment in public health infrastructure. She said the new laboratory will enable New York State to better anticipate and prepare for emerging health threats and serve as one of the most authoritative public health laboratories in the country, influencing policy and practice at state, national, and international levels.
New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized the laboratory’s role in advancing disease surveillance and biomedical research. He noted that the facility reflects the state’s commitment to keeping New York at the forefront of public health innovation while strengthening preparedness for future crises.
The project is being overseen by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). DASNY President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez called the laboratory one of the most significant public health construction projects in the nation and highlighted its long-term value to New Yorkers.
The new Wadsworth Center Laboratory is designed to be fully electric, energy-efficient, and highly adaptable, with flexible laboratory spaces and advanced genomic sequencing infrastructure. According to HOK’s Director of Science + Technology in New York, David Schwartz, the design prioritizes resilience and flexibility to address both everyday surveillance needs and unknown future threats.
Turner Construction and Gilbane Building Company both highlighted the project’s importance in enhancing New York’s public health readiness. Company leaders noted that the facility will play a vital role in protecting public health while supporting scientific collaboration and innovation for decades to come.
The Wadsworth Center is nationally recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies as a reference laboratory for infectious diseases, environmental hazards, and toxicological threats. Its programs include wastewater surveillance, environmental health monitoring, newborn screening for more than 210,000 babies annually, and rapid diagnostic testing that has led national efforts in tuberculosis, Mpox, influenza, and polio detection.
The new facility will also strengthen partnerships with the nearby SUNY University at Albany and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory, building on collaborations that date back several decades.
As the Wadsworth Center marks its 125th anniversary this year, the new laboratory is expected to carry forward its legacy as a cornerstone of public health protection, ensuring New York State remains prepared to meet future public health challenges.
