In Manhattan, Kan., the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), an animal disease research facility, has finished construction. Replacing the 68-year-old Plum Island Animal Disease Center, NBAF, when fully operational, will have labs functioning at multiple biosafety levels—including the nation’s first facility with biosafety level 4 containment capable of housing large livestock.
The 707,000-sf facility has been developed to ensure public health and the safety and security of the nation’s food supply. In 574,000 sf of lab space, scientists will safely study and diagnose high-consequence animal pathogens. In addition, an 87,000-sf utility plant houses boilers, chillers, emergency diesel generators, and other support elements for the main lab facility.
In addition to its state-of-the-art laboratories, NBAF will have a Biologics Development Module to explore potential vaccines, diagnostic platforms, and veterinary medical countermeasures.
With construction complete, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun to assume control of NBAF from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. This involves confirming laboratory setup and making sure the equipment functions properly. “These are critical initial steps to ensure all research and diagnostics can be accomplished safely and effectively,” Ken Burton, NBAF deputy director, said in a statement.
The preconstruction, construction, and commissioning contract was valued at $1.06 billion. Despite pandemic-related challenges and delays, the project with commissioning came in under the $1.25 billion budget established by federal officials in 2014.
On the Building Team:
Owner/developer: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, which turned over operational responsibility to U.S. Department of Agriculture
Design team: NBAF Design Partnership JV (Perkins&Will, Flad Architects, Affiliated Engineers, WSP, and Merrick & Company)
Design architect: Perkins&Will
Architects of record: Perkins&Will and Flad Architects
MEP engineers: Affiliated Engineers, Inc., WSP, and Merrick & Company
Structural engineers: IMEG Corp. and Flad Architects
Construction manager: McCarthy Mortenson JV (McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and Mortenson Construction)
Related Stories
Laboratories | Nov 8, 2023
Boston’s FORUM building to support cutting-edge life sciences research and development
Global real estate companies Lendlease and Ivanhoé Cambridge recently announced the topping-out of FORUM, a nine-story, 350,000-sf life science building in Boston. Located in Boston Landing, a 15-acre mixed-use community, the $545 million project will achieve operational net zero carbon upon completion in 2024.
Laboratories | Sep 20, 2023
Life sciences construction market is poised for a comeback: JLL
The life sciences commercial real estate market has undergone a reset this year but is well positioned to be the comeback kid as capital sources grow more confident and green shoots emerge, according to JLL’s 2023 Life Sciences Industry and Real Estate Perspective.
Laboratories | Aug 24, 2023
Net-zero carbon science center breaks ground in Canada
Designed by Diamond Schmitt, the new Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC) will provide federal scientists and partners with state-of-the-art space and equipment to collaborate on research opportunities.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 115 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2023
Stantec, HDR, Page, HOK, and Arcadis North America top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
2023 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
A record 552 AEC firms submitted data for BD+C's 2023 Giants 400 Report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 175 Architecture Firms for 2023
Gensler, HKS, Perkins&Will, Corgan, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
University Buildings | Aug 7, 2023
Eight-story Vancouver Community College building dedicated to clean energy, electric vehicle education
The Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation, to be designed by Stantec, will house classrooms, labs, a library and learning center, an Indigenous gathering space, administrative offices, and multiple collaborative learning spaces.
Laboratories | Jun 23, 2023
A New Jersey development represents the state’s largest-ever investment in life sciences and medical education
In New Brunswick, N.J., a life sciences development that’s now underway aims to bring together academics and researchers to work, learn, and experiment under one roof. HELIX Health + Life Science Exchange is an innovation district under development on a four-acre downtown site. At $731 million, HELIX, which will be built in three phases, represents New Jersey’s largest-ever investment in life sciences and medical education, according to a press statement.
University Buildings | May 17, 2023
New UC Irvine health sciences building supports aim to become national model for integrative health
The new College of Health Sciences Building and Nursing & Health Sciences Hall at the University of California Irvine supports the institution’s goal of becoming a national model for integrative health. The new 211,660-sf facility houses nursing, medical doctorate, pharmacy, philosophy, and public health programs in a single building.
Sustainability | May 11, 2023
Let's build toward a circular economy
Eric Corey Freed, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign, discusses the values of well-designed, regenerative buildings.
