Johns Hopkins University and the Turner-Mahogany Joint Venture have celebrated the topping-out ceremony of the new Henrietta Lacks Building, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the academic and research facility.
The ceremony signifies the completion of the building’s structural framework and highlights continued progress toward the project’s anticipated completion. Once finished, the facility will provide modern space for research, collaboration and academic activities.
Key Details of the New Facility
The 33,600-square-foot, four-story building is designed to connect directly to the historic Deering Hall, integrating new infrastructure with existing campus architecture.
Project officials confirmed that the building is on track to achieve LEED Gold certification, reflecting a strong focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and environmentally responsible construction practices.
The design and construction teams have prioritized materials efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable construction methods throughout the project.
Teamwork Highlighted During Ceremony
During the topping-out celebration, project leaders emphasized the collaborative effort required to reach this milestone.
Coretta Bennett, Senior Director of Operations, Design & Construction for Johns Hopkins Facilities and Real Estate, noted that successful construction projects depend on the collective efforts of everyone involved.
She highlighted the contributions of the many skilled workers and tradespeople whose work physically brings complex building projects to life.
Strong Safety and Sustainability Record
Since mobilizing in October 2024, the project team has demonstrated a strong safety performance. According to project officials, construction crews have logged 26,647 craft hours with zero recordable injuries, lost-time incidents or restricted-duty cases.
The project has also exceeded sustainability targets related to waste management. To date, the construction team has achieved a 95.4 percent recycling rate for construction waste, significantly surpassing the project’s goal of 80 percent.
Tolu Dayo, Project Manager for the Turner-Mahogany Joint Venture, said the milestone reflects the strong collaboration between the owner, contractors and project partners.
He noted that the team has remained focused on safety, quality and disciplined execution since construction began.
Moving Toward Project Completion
With the structural phase now complete, the project will move into the next stages of construction, including interior work, systems installation and finishing activities.
Once completed, the Henrietta Lacks Building will enhance research and academic capabilities at Johns Hopkins University while honoring the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells played a crucial role in advancing biomedical research.
The topping-out milestone represents an important step forward as the project team works toward delivering a modern, sustainable facility for the university’s future academic and research needs.
