The final major steel beam is in place at New York’s largest public health laboratory project, a facility designed to unite nearly 800 employees and strengthen disease, environmental and newborn screening work statewide.

The Wadsworth Center Laboratory under construction in Albany has reached a major milestone: crews have placed the final structural steel beam on the main building. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the “topping out” on October 14, marking the completion of the five-story laboratory’s primary steel frame.

The $1.7 billion project at the W. Averell Harriman State Office Campus is intended to consolidate five Department of Health laboratory sites in the Capital Region. The new 663,000-square-foot building is expected to bring nearly 800 Wadsworth Center employees under one roof and give the state a modern base for public health testing, research and emergency response.

For Mohawk Valley residents, this is not simply an Albany construction story. Wadsworth’s statewide work includes identifying infectious diseases, testing for environmental threats, screening newborns and supporting local health departments. Samples connected to illnesses and animal exposures in Oneida County can ultimately rely on the state laboratory system. A more modern, unified facility could affect how quickly and effectively New York responds when a new threat appears.

What the construction milestone means

A topping-out ceremony generally marks the point when the highest or final major piece of structural steel is placed. It does not mean the building is finished. At Wadsworth, it means the main steel skeleton is complete and work can move deeper into the floors, exterior and complex mechanical systems required by a modern laboratory.

According to the governor’s announcement, the frame contains more than 8,200 major pieces of steel weighing about 5,545 tons. More than 200 skilled tradespeople are working on the project each day, and about 40 contractor businesses are represented on site. Workers, state officials and project partners signed the final beam before a crane lifted it into place.

Crews are now continuing floor construction, fireproofing and the installation of electrical, plumbing and other building systems. Work on the exterior façade is expected to begin later in 2026. The building is projected to be fully enclosed in 2027.

Substantial completion is expected in late 2029. At that point, the Department of Health is scheduled to begin taking ownership and moving laboratory operations into the facility. Final construction completion is anticipated in early 2030.

The state says the project remains on schedule and on budget. It is the largest construction project in the history of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, commonly called DASNY.

What the new laboratory is designed to do

Wadsworth is New York’s public health reference laboratory. Its work is different from the routine testing most patients receive through a doctor’s office or hospital. The center handles specialized testing, surveillance, research, quality oversight and emergency work that can support health agencies and laboratories across the state.

The new building is planned to support:

• infectious disease surveillance and diagnostic testing;
• wastewater testing that can help track disease trends;
• environmental health testing and threat detection;
• newborn screening for serious congenital and genetic disorders;
• laboratory certification and oversight; and
• research and preparation for emerging public health threats.

The Wadsworth public health programs page explains that its laboratories identify genetic diseases, infectious agents and environmental hazards. The center’s official overview also describes its work in laboratory analysis, investigations, research, certification and education.

Bringing five operations together is meant to reduce the limits created by separate sites. A single purpose-built campus can make it easier for scientists in different specialties to share equipment, exchange information and coordinate during an emergency. The building is also being designed to adapt as testing methods and public health needs change.

Why this matters in the Mohawk Valley

Residents may encounter Wadsworth’s work without seeing the laboratory’s name. When a bat or another animal tests positive for rabies, state laboratory testing helps local health officials determine whether exposed people need prompt treatment. The Phoenix has reported on that connection in cases including a rabid bat in South Utica.

Wadsworth also operates New York’s newborn screening program. A few drops of blood collected shortly after birth can be tested for serious disorders that may not be visible right away. Early identification can allow families and doctors to begin treatment or monitoring sooner. The Phoenix previously covered an expansion of newborn screening that added more genetic conditions.

The same statewide network matters when health officials track respiratory viruses, investigate unusual disease clusters, monitor wastewater or test for environmental contaminants. The new building will not replace county health departments, hospitals or local laboratories. Instead, it is intended to give those systems stronger specialized backup.

There could also be longer-term workforce value for upstate New York. The announcement focuses on the nearly 800 existing Wadsworth employees who will be consolidated in Albany, not on a specific number of new permanent jobs. Still, a modern laboratory can help New York recruit and retain scientists, technicians, data specialists, engineers and other professionals. Students in the Mohawk Valley who study biology, chemistry, environmental science, public health, laboratory technology or related fields may see another major in-state employer and research hub.

Those effects should be described carefully. The state has not announced that hundreds of new permanent positions will be created, and the direct construction work is centered in Albany. The clearest immediate employment impact is the daily presence of more than 200 skilled tradespeople and roughly 40 contractor businesses on the project.

Business participation and project team

The Department of Health will own and operate the finished laboratory. DASNY is managing delivery for the state. The design-build team is a joint venture between Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, working with HOK architects.

The state also reports that participation by Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses is currently above the project’s combined 36 percent goal. That measure is important because large public projects can otherwise concentrate contracts among a small group of major firms. Meeting participation goals creates opportunities for qualified smaller businesses to take part in public investment.

Hochul called the facility “an extraordinary investment in New York’s public health infrastructure.” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said the project would help Wadsworth continue public health surveillance and prepare for future crises. Wadsworth Director Dr. Leonard Peruski emphasized the facility’s role in attracting scientists and strengthening collaboration. Albany officials also pointed to construction work, specialized employment and the project’s wider economic effect in the Capital Region.

What New Yorkers can use now

The laboratory will not open for several years, but its current programs continue operating. Families and local organizations can use these official resources:

• Read the full state announcement and construction details.
• Visit the New Wadsworth Center Laboratory project page for the state’s overview of the facility.
• Learn about New York’s Newborn Screening Program, including information for parents and health professionals.
• For urgent local health concerns, contact a medical professional or the appropriate county health department. Emergency symptoms should be reported through 911.

A statewide project with local consequences

The topping out is a construction milestone, not the finish line. Years of work remain before scientists move in, and the state will need to manage the transition without interrupting essential testing. Cost, schedule and laboratory continuity will all deserve continued public attention.

If the project stays on track, New York will gain a centralized public health laboratory designed for the next generation of testing and research. For Mohawk Valley residents, its value will be measured less by the Albany skyline than by what happens when a newborn needs fast answers, a local animal exposure requires confirmation, or the next public health threat reaches Central New York.

What public health testing or service would you like the Phoenix to explain next? Share this story with a family member, health worker, student or community group that could use the official resources above.