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Construction has commenced on the new Wadsworth Center laboratory at the W. Averell Harriman Campus in Albany. Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Monday (January 26) that the $1.7 billion project aims to enhance the state's ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging health threats. The new facility will consolidate five separate Wadsworth labs into a single location, spanning 663,000 square feet across a 27-acre site.
Designed by Gilbane Building Company, Turner Construction Company, and HOK architects, the five-story laboratory is expected to be completed by 2030. The lab will accommodate approximately 800 employees and foster closer collaboration with nearby institutions, including SUNY Albany and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory.
Governor Hochul emphasized the lab's role in strengthening public health policy and practice at state, national, and international levels. State Health Department Commissioner Dr. James McDonald stated that the facility will ensure the Wadsworth Center remains at the forefront of biomedical and environmental research.
According to Spectrum News, State Senator Pat Fahy highlighted the project as the largest public investment in the Capital Region in decades. The Wadsworth Center, which first opened in 1901, is currently the largest public health lab in the United States.