PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island has officially opened the doors to its new State Health Laboratory at 150 Richmond Street, a $81.7 million state-of-the-art facility designed to strengthen public health infrastructure while expanding opportunities for the state’s fast-growing life sciences sector.
The new seven-story, 212,000-square-foot building was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 17, 2025, marking the eighth major development completed in Providence’s rapidly transforming 195 District. Developed by Legal & General, designed by HOK, and built by Dimeo Construction, the structure anchors a district that has become a magnet for innovation, technology, and research.
The building’s construction was made possible through an $81.7 million Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It represents one of the largest federal investments in Rhode Island’s public health infrastructure in decades.
Governor Dan McKee, joined by members of the state’s congressional delegation and key local leaders, praised the milestone as a symbol of Rhode Island’s progress in public health and economic development.
“150 Richmond is our latest addition to a thriving 195 District that has put Rhode Island on the map for the life sciences industry,” McKee said. “Not only do the new State Health Laboratories provide the ideal environment for our researchers at the Rhode Island Department of Health, but the life science incubator and available business spaces in the building set the stage for exciting public-private collaborations in the future.”
The facility now serves as the new headquarters for the Rhode Island Department of Health State Laboratories, offering advanced research and testing capabilities that far surpass those of the former lab. It features Biosafety Level 2 and 3 laboratories, allowing scientists to conduct sensitive chemical, biological, and environmental analyses securely.
The lab will support critical functions including infectious disease testing, forensic and environmental monitoring, and public safety assessments for air, water, and food systems. Officials said the design will also give the department greater flexibility to respond to emerging health threats and adopt new technologies such as genome sequencing.
State House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi emphasized how the new facility will strengthen Rhode Island’s leadership in both science and economic development.
“Rhode Island sorely needed a new state health lab, and I am delighted that we were able to leverage our investment to bolster our burgeoning life sciences industry,” Shekarchi said. “By bringing together world-class public health infrastructure, cutting-edge research space and private innovation, we are creating a powerful engine for economic growth, scientific discovery and community wellbeing.”
In addition to public health operations, the building will also house Ocean State Labs, Rhode Island’s first life science incubator, powered by Portal Innovations with support from the RI Life Science Hub, the 195 District, and Brown University. The incubator will open in early 2026, with five start-ups already slated to occupy the space.
Three additional floors have been designated for private research and biotech companies, creating opportunities for direct collaboration between public health agencies, academia, and private industry.
State leaders see the co-location model as a blueprint for how smaller states can successfully compete in the national life sciences arena. Marc Crisafulli, chair of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, highlighted the project’s economic and cultural impact.
“[It] adds more than just square footage — it adds momentum. It adds jobs. It adds vitality. It continues to fill in the fabric of the 195 District, which is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic places to live, work and innovate in New England,” he said.
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The project was a multi-agency collaboration involving the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, Department of Administration, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and Department of Health, in coordination with the 195 District.
Dr. Jerry Larkin, director of the state’s health agency, underscored the lab’s importance in serving residents and improving statewide emergency response capacity.
“The staff at the State Health Laboratories work every day to keep Rhode Islanders and their communities healthy and safe,” Larkin said. “This much-needed modern facility will help us better serve Rhode Islanders, perform cutting-edge laboratory science and quickly respond to emergencies and other public health events.”
He added, “We are incredibly grateful to the CDC, our congressional delegation and all our laboratory staff for helping turn our vision for state-of-the-art labs into a reality and solidify Rhode Island's position as a leader in public health and scientific innovation.”
State Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor said the project exemplifies how strategic partnerships and federal investment can drive long-term innovation.
“By co-locating our state health laboratory with a private sector lab and incubation space, we are leveraging a key state asset in order to drive innovation and economic activity,” Pryor said. “This space exemplifies how strategic investment and partnership can position Rhode Island to compete nationally in the life sciences space.”
With the completion of 150 Richmond, Rhode Island cements its status as a regional hub for research and innovation—one that blends public health preparedness, economic growth, and scientific advancement in one transformative facility.
Originally reported by Office Of Gov. Dan Mickee in Construction Equipment Guide.
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