Yesterday, county officials initiated the construction of a new $93.3 million public health lab in Kearny Mesa. According to the County of San Diego, the facility will be triple the size of the old building, allowing it to cater to the region's varied needs.
The lab will handle testing for illnesses such as COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and flu. It will also facilitate food and water safety checks, animal rabies examinations, and dangerous pathogen testing. It is also prepared to aid in both research and emergency response efforts.
This new location is soon to be the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Lab for San Diego and Imperial Counties. Alongside its increased size, offerings are planned to include additional services like whole genome sequencing and tuberculosis testing.
The county officials have decided to consolidate various campus offices in order to expedite the construction process, as reported by the County News Center. As a result, they managed to relocate 600 staff from the Health Services Center to an existing building - a transition that saved the County $130 million. These savings played a significant role in funding the new lab and associated parking structure.
The $33.8 million eco-conscious parking garage, boasting over 700 spaces and 260 electric vehicle charging stations, is scheduled to be constructed in tandem with the lab. Given the lab's high-energy requirements, solar panels will be installed on both the lab and parking structure, with an estimated coverage of 60% of the energy needs.
With the project progressing rapidly, the parking structure is expected to be completed in September 2024 and the lab is anticipated to be operational by spring 2025. This initiative by the County underscores a robust dedication to public health and environmental protection.
