The Rhode Island government is moving forward with its Rhode Island Health Lab development at the Innovation and Design District.
After a competitive RFP process conducted in April, the Ancora L&G joint venture was selected as the developer. The 50:50 joint venture comprises Ancora, a North Carolina-based real estate developer, and the UK-based Legal & General Capital.
The Rhode Island Health Lab project is intended to create a more technologically advanced workspace than the existing state health lab. According to U.S. Senator, Jack Reed, the old lab at 50 Orms Street is past its prime. But he said the new facility will be better designed and equipped to test for serious health threats.
Also Read Mercer’s Moye Pharmacy Health Center Breaks Ground in Atlanta
Development plans for the Rhode Island Health Lab project
The Rhode Island Health Lab project will involve building a 212,000-square-foot, 7-story building on the state’s former I-195 land. The new facility will include state-of-the-art public health labs, along with spaces for private entities. However, the state will own the new health lab, while Ancora L&G will retain ownership of the private laboratory space.
The development will feature 80,000 square feet for state use and another 20,000 square feet which will be leased by Brown University. But the remaining spaces will be reserved for other biotech tenants. Overall, the Health Lab project’s cost is expected to be around $165 million. Meanwhile, the state health lab alone is estimated at $81.7 million and it’s being funded by a CDC federal grant.
The Health Lab project will also feature a Biosafety Level 3 facility just like the Orms Street location. This will enable researchers to provide critical services for a variety of infectious disease, environmental, and forensic testing needs. Additionally, the facility will also offer more flexibility for conducting testing and genomic sequencing to research deadly pathogens.
Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos said the Rhode Island Health Lab project would attract more life sciences investments to the state. He pointed out that the development would not only support the economy but also create a hub for health experts.
