High-Profile Focus: Life Sciences
November 2025
19
Rhode Island Opens $81M State Health Lab and Life Sciences Hub Providence, RI — 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 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. It was developed by Legal & General, designed by HOK, and built by Dimeo Construction. The 7-story, 212,000sf building was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 17, marking the eighth major development completed in Providence’s 195 District. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee was joined by members of the state’s congressional delegation and key local leaders. “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
150 Richmond / Rendering courtesy of HOK
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. 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, set to open in early 2026. 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. 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.
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