Allegheny County?Health Department?(ACHD) has selected global integrated design firm Â鶹´«Ã½ to provide architecture and lab planning as well as structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and telecommunications engineering services for its new public health laboratory. This state-of-the-art facility will meet the current and future public health service needs of the county and its surrounding region. It will be part of a network of laboratories across the country which are poised to respond to emerging public health threats.
The project results from a study performed by Â鶹´«Ã½ that demonstrated the benefits of consolidating previously dispersed facilities into a single 46,000-square-foot facility and includes renovations to an existing office/warehouse building. The new laboratory will offer advanced molecular diagnostics, rabies, virology, bacteriology, and serology testing. Also included in the project is the replacement of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems with new rooftop equipment.
Meeting the needs of an expanding community
The backbone of local public health services, public health laboratories are highly specialized to protect the health of the community by monitoring and detecting health threats ranging from rabies and viral illnesses to potentially harmful biological substances.
Located in Southwestern Pennsylvania, this new lab will support the needs of Allegheny County, which has a population of more than 1.25 million people, the state¡¯s second-most populous county. Experiencing a 2.2 percent growth in population since 2010, Allegheny County has a relatively large senior population with 19.3 percent of its residents aged 65 years or older, compared to the national average of 15.2 percent. At the same time, consideration has been given to the potential service needs of surrounding counties in Western Pennsylvania.
¡°With a growing community, the ACHD team is increasing its abilities to support their residents, and we are proud to support their efforts,¡± said Shawn Maley, principal for Â鶹´«Ã½. ¡°Our local design experts have the advantage of Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s extensive network of specialists to offer an integrated team that will help meet the highest standards for systems and technology on this community resource.¡±
Learn more about our building Â鶹´«Ã½ in science and technology facilities here.
About Â鶹´«Ã½
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That¡¯s why at Â鶹´«Ã½, we always design with community in mind.
We care about the communities we serve¡ªbecause they¡¯re our communities too. This allows us to assess what¡¯s needed and connect our Â鶹´«Ã½, to appreciate nuances and envision what¡¯s never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.
We¡¯re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.
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