Arkansas Public Health Laboratory

Lord Aeck Sargent, in collaboration with local architect The Wilcox Group, spearheaded the architectural, laboratory, and biocontainment design for the Arkansas Public Health Laboratory. This state-of-the-art facility is a cornerstone in safeguarding the health of Arkansans by providing critical testing services for safe food and drinking water, identifying inherited genetic disorders in newborns, and combating infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, rabies, West Nile virus, and potential chemical or biological terrorism threats. Encompassing 45,500 square feet of BLS-2 laboratories and 4,000 square feet of BSL-3 containment space dedicated to microbiology and tuberculosis testing, the design ensures flexibility to adapt to changing testing needs and equipment. Additionally, the facility features a first responder hub for chemical and biological terrorism incidents. Sustainability is at the forefront with innovative design strategies aimed at reducing operational costs, complemented by an efficient workflow system to manage a large volume of samples effectively.