Federal officials are betting big on Lakewood’s role in keeping the nation’s food supply safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration broke ground Wednesday on a $228 million food laboratory at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood. The purpose‑built facility is slated to replace aging lab space and, according to federal documents, is intended to speed testing and outbreak response for food, drugs, and cosmetics. GSA materials project construction wrapping up by early 2029.
In a release, GSA said the new project will expand the FDA’s regional research capacity while delivering modern, purpose‑built laboratory space. GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst said the project will “enhance the FDA’s ability to ensure food safety,” according to the announcement. The agency pegs the project cost at an estimated $228 million and reiterates the early‑2029 completion timeline.
What the lab will do
Officials say the building will be outfitted with testing suites designed to speed outbreak investigations and widen the agency’s ability to analyze contaminated or suspect products. As reported by Denver7, the facility will house the FDA’s only Biosafety Level 3 laboratory west of the Mississippi, a designation that allows work with certain dangerous pathogens under tightly controlled conditions.
Existing lab and local footprint
The FDA already runs the Denver Human and Animal Food Laboratory at the federal center, and agency materials say the new structure is intended to replace that aging workspace with upgraded suites and equipment. The FDA describes Denver as a longstanding regional hub for food testing and regulatory science, and officials expect the consolidation to centralize capabilities that are currently spread across older buildings.
Why it matters
The latest announcement builds on earlier funding and design work. In 2023, GSA disclosed a $79 million Inflation Reduction Act award to support a new, energy‑efficient FDA lab at the Denver Federal Center, with local reporting noting net‑zero and broader sustainability aims for the project. The Colorado Sun covered the 2023 funding details and design goals as the plan took shape.
What comes next
With the ceremonial first shovel now in the ground, officials say the project will shift into full construction mode, along with related procurement and permitting steps. The Denver Federal Center has already been the focus of other modernization and energy work in recent years, and BusinessWire coverage of campus energy projects highlights GSA’s push to link laboratory upgrades with sustainable infrastructure improvements. Local hires and construction contracts will likely follow as the work moves toward the agency’s early‑2029 target.
