The Peru Gazette

Wadsworth Center Has Grown Into the Largest and Most Diverse State Public Health Laboratory in the Nation, Protecting the Health of New Yorkers and Communities Far Beyond State’s Borders

Albany, NYS News Release of 1/26/26 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced construction is officially underway for the planned $1.7 billion state-of-the-art public health laboratory that will transform New York’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging threats. The new Wadsworth Center facility will consolidate five unconnected sites across the Greater Albany area into one single, modern facility, strengthening the State’s ability to effectively respond to future public health threats, support the next generation of scientists, and provide opportunities for collaboration across the country. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Since 1901, the Wadsworth Center has grown into the largest and most diverse state public health laboratory in the nation.

“The new Wadsworth Center Laboratory is a powerful investment in the health of every person in New York State,” Governor Hochul said.  “The lab will allow the State to better predict and prepare for emerging threats to public health and will be one of the most authoritative public health laboratories in the country, impacting public health policy and practice at the state, national and international level.”

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “The Department of Health’s new Wadsworth Center Laboratory is testament to Governor Hochul’s commitment to protecting public health by keeping New York State at the forefront of advancements in disease surveillance. This facility will help us ensure our nation-leading public health research laboratory remains on the cutting edge of biomedical and environmental research critical to protecting public health.” 

Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to deliver this transformational $1.7 billion project for the Department of Health. As the state’s construction and financing authority, we are committed to building infrastructure that serves New Yorkers for generations to come. This represents one of the most significant public health laboratory projects in the nation, and our team is working closely with our design-build partners to ensure the Wadsworth Center receives a world-class facility worthy of its renowned scientific mission. We thank Governor Hochul for her vision and commitment to this critical investment in New York’s public health infrastructure.”

Today, the Wadsworth Center stands at the forefront of innovation, protecting the health of New Yorkers and communities even far beyond the State’s borders. The Center is recognized by the CDC and other federal agencies as a national reference center for a wide range of infectious diseases, environmental hazards, and toxicological threats. 

To be located on the W. Averell Harriman Campus in Albany, the Wadsworth Center will foster an even closer collaboration with the nearby SUNY University at Albany campus, building on academic partnerships that date back to the mid-1980s, as well as with the adjacent New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory. The laboratory will house nearly 800 staff and is being designed to adapt to evolving needs over its lifetime, with a strong emphasis on energy, efficiency, and sustainability. 

The design-build team is a joint venture between Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, in association with HOK architects. The team’s design for the new laboratory shows a five-story, 663,000 gross square foot laboratory.

The Wadsworth Center leads a wide array of nation-leading programs that have made New York a model for public health laboratories nationwide. Together, these programs have driven innovation, strengthened preparedness, and safeguarded communities from emerging threats.

• Public Health Emergency Response: Led detection and surveillance of the 2022 poliovirus outbreak, including identification of the first U.S. case of paralytic polio. 

• Wastewater Surveillance and Diagnostics: Serves as New York State’s primary wastewater surveillance laboratory for the detection of emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
• Environmental Health Leadership: Functions as the State’s lead Safe Drinking Water Act laboratory and a national leader in detection, monitoring, and reporting. 
• Innovative Diagnostic Testing Pipelines: The Center’s diagnostic developments outpace the CDC in areas of testing for tuberculosis, Mpox, and influenza. 
• Newborn Screening Program: Advances the screening of newborns for more than 210,000 babies annually for 50+ disorders, enabling early diagnosis and life-saving care.
• Regulatory and Oversight Programs: Sets and enforces rigorous statewide laboratory standards, exceeding federal requirements and serving as a national model.

The Wadsworth Center celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The new laboratory will carry this proud legacy forward, ensuring the Wadsworth Center remains a world-class public health institution serving New York State and beyond for generations to come.