Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the topping out of the new $1.7 billion Wadsworth Center Laboratory at the W. Averell Harriman State Office Campus in Albany, marking a major construction milestone as the final structural steel beam was raised into place on the main laboratory building.
The five-story, 663,000-square-foot facility is the largest construction project in the history of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The new laboratory will consolidate five New York State Department of Health sites across the Capital Region and bring nearly 800 Wadsworth Center employees together under one roof, strengthening New York’s ability to detect, prevent and respond to emerging public health threats.
“The new Wadsworth Center Laboratory represents an extraordinary investment in New York’s public health infrastructure and in the scientists and professionals who work every day to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “Reaching this milestone brings us another step closer to a modern, world-class laboratory that will strengthen our ability to prepare for emerging threats, advance groundbreaking research and protect public health for generations to come.”
Construction remains on schedule and on budget. The main laboratory building’s steel frame includes more than 8,200 major pieces of structural steel totaling approximately 5,545 tons. More than 200 skilled tradespeople are working on the project each day, with roughly 40 contractor businesses represented onsite.
DASNY President & CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said topping out marks a significant step for a project that will serve New York for generations. New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said Wadsworth Center has grown into the largest and most diverse state-run public health laboratory in the nation.
With the main steel frame complete, crews are continuing construction of the building’s floors, fireproofing the structure and installing electrical, plumbing and other building systems. Interior systems will increasingly take shape this fall, and installation of the building’s exterior façade is expected to begin later this year. The building is expected to be fully enclosed in 2027.
The laboratory is being designed to adapt to evolving needs over its lifetime, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability. The facility will support Wadsworth Center’s work in areas including infectious disease surveillance, wastewater testing, environmental health, newborn screening, diagnostic testing and laboratory oversight.
Construction began with site preparation in spring 2025, followed by foundation work and installation of the building’s structural steel frame. The project is expected to reach substantial completion in late 2029, when the Department of Health will begin taking ownership of the facility and relocating laboratory operations. Final construction completion is anticipated in early 2030.
The New York State Department of Health will own and operate the facility. DASNY is delivering the project on behalf of the State. The design-build team is a joint venture between Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, in association with HOK architects. Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business participation currently exceeds the project’s combined 36 percent participation goal.