Dallas County saw a critical need for advanced public health research and lab testing space in their community. They engaged us as part of a design-build team to deliver the new Dallas County Health and Human Services Public Health/BSL3 Laboratory, a three-story, high-containment facility located adjacent to the Southwestern Medical District in Dallas, Texas.
Our scope of services included architecture, interior design, and laboratory planning, as well as coordination of civil, structural, architectural, interior, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, telecommunications, and security design. We were involved in all phases, from pre-design (programming) to construction, with design-build partner Beck Construction and developer Hunt Companies.
Our design for the building incorporates technical solutions that meet current state containment requirements while meeting energy efficiency and sustainability goals. This includes specialized exterior systems and a roofing system adapted to support the laboratory's operational functions.
The first floor houses the main BSL-3 laboratory, accessioning, and multiple BSL-2 labs, along with an entry lobby and secure transport facility. Level 2 remains a shell offering for the addition of future lab space while office and training laboratory space are provided on the upper floor.
The facility obtained Federal Select Agent Program registration in September 2026, a legal requirement that attests any U.S. entity possessing, using, or transferring certain high‑risk biological materials is authorized to do so under strict safety and security standards.
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