PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The existing Public Health Laboratory provides clinical, environmental microbiology and chemistry laboratory services to all Marion County Public Health Department programs and other local health agencies. The lab also analyzes specimens from private citizens. HHC seeks to construct a new health laboratory to better serve the community by expanding and improving available services and increasing efficiency. The new Public Health Laboratory building will be a two-story best-in-class laboratory building, consisting of approximately 65,318 gross square feet with the addition of a new public facing STD Clinic (Bellflower), also with addition of Department of Vital records (local county registrar office) and Immunization Records.
- The building will allow for future growth of laboratory capacity and capabilities, facilitate communication both in and outside of the lab, provide ample daylight for employee wellbeing, provide a flexible and adaptable design, and a level of building resiliency in the event of a natural or environmental disaster.
- The site location is at the existing Marion County Public Health campus at 3830 Meadows Drive with a developable area of +/- 3.2 acres.
- The proposed site will be a catalyst for urban redevelopment in the area and will be located near a future IndyGo Purple Line stop to increase public access for the community.
- A public parking lot to accommodate up to 150 people and a secure parking lot to accommodate up to 50 employees.
- A separate covered entry from the main entry will be provided for courier sample dropoff and receiving, and funeral directors operations.
- The Clinical and Environmental laboratories are to be designed with an open, flexible concept. The Public Health Laboratory will also include space for a BSL-3 laboratory, training classrooms and laboratories, laboratory support, warehouse dock, and office administrative spaces.
- Secured pathway to and from HHC HQ (Hasbrook Building) Walking paths connecting all HHC building on Meadows campus and IndyGo bus stop on 38th Street.
- Event space for community gatherings such as health fair, immunization event, or public board meeting.
- A goal of LEED Silver Certification is desired.
To read more about the Project Description, click here.
To view a list of Project Contacts, click here.
PROJECT UPDATES
October 2025
HHC Announces Laboratory Art Projects
Eskenazi Health’s Newest Facility Achieves LEED® Silver Certification
Indianapolis, October 20, 2025 — Eskenazi Health Thomas & Arlene Grande Campus has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification, joining a select and growing group of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient facilities in the country.
The 95,000 square-foot outpatient health care campus opened in April 2024 as part of a nearly $90 million investment in capital improvements to primary care facilities across Marion County. It is Eskenazi Health’s most comprehensive, innovative and community-focused health center on the east side of Indianapolis.
The facility joins Eskenazi Health Center West 38th Street and Eskenazi Health’s downtown campus, which achieved LEED® Gold Certification in 2015. The downtown campus was among the first and largest new hospital campuses in the United States and first in the state to achieve that designation.
“At Eskenazi Health we promote health in all its dimensions. Our priority remains the overall health of our community in the broadest possible terms,” said Lisa Harris, M.D., CEO of Eskenazi Health. “As with our downtown campus, we view this environmentally friendly health care campus as a statement of our commitment to those we serve now as well as for generations to come.”
Eskenazi Health received the Silver designation through the selection of sustainable materials, energy efficient mechanical, plumbing, and electrical infrastructure, and the introduction of multiple low-maintenance green spaces as part of the campus design. A variety of window systems helps bring daylight inside the facility while creating a welcoming and healing environment.
A walking path surrounds the campus, and two outdoor spaces – the East and West Plaza of Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Gardens – help welcome patients and visitors to the building. Produce grown in a large garden and orchard along the north end of the campus is used for patient education and nutrition programs.
The east side health care campus, which is located at 6002 E. 38th St. at the northeast corner of East 38th Street and North Arlington Avenue, was designed with collaboration from members of the immediate neighborhoods and local community organizations. Guided by community input, the facility serves as a hub for community gathering, providing expanded and accessible care options and social amenities under one roof.
The facility transformed a former paved area into green space, making it a premier destination for local community events and recreational activities. It is conveniently located along the IndyGo Purple Line and offers east side residents access to primary care, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center and Marion County Public Health Department services.
With the recognition as LEED® Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council, a third-party verification that recognizes buildings designed and constructed using strategies aimed at improving performance in energy savings, Eskenazi Health has a growing list of environmentally friendly facilities that makeup its health system. Other criteria that go into LEED® certification include, water efficiency, improved indoor air quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The decision to reuse an old urban site was also one of the many credits the new facility achieved for its environmental sustainability.
Prior to opening of the east side campus, Eskenazi Health announced a lead gift of $2.5 million from Thomas and Arlene Grande. The Grandes made their lead gift to Eskenazi Health Foundation’s Beyond Barriers campaign, an initiative that supports Eskenazi Health’s longstanding commitment to addressing the social drivers that impact the health and well-being of residents in Marion County and across Central Indiana.
September 2025
We are excited to share the latest progress on the construction of the Marion County Public Health Laboratory. The project is advancing steadily, and here are some key updates from the site:
Site and Utility Work
- Curbs along the new parking lots have been poured.
- Spot grading and the initial paving of the parking lot binder has been completed, giving shape to the future guest and employee parking lots.
Building Foundation and Envelope
- Exterior limestone has nearly been completed, with the masonry work wrapping up mid-October.
- The penthouse metal screen panels have been installed and structurally supported.
- The roofers have nearly completed their work, getting the building one step closer to being fully dried in.
Systems Coordination
- Ongoing coordination with CIS, Facilities, and Security departments is focused on cable management, IT/data rooms, security access, cameras, and fire protection systems.
Interior Construction
- Interior wall framing on both first and second floors have been completed, with most areas successfully topped out.
- Piping and mechanical ductwork are actively being routed throughout the building and will soon be insulated.
Upcoming Activities
As the exterior of the building continues to take shape, additional trades will begin to mobilize on the interior construction. During this time, the project team will focus on:
- Completion of the penthouse and lower south roofing.
- Interior plumbing and ductwork insultation.
- Interior fire caulking and taping
- Installation of curtain wall system on the east and south façades.
We will continue to provide updates on progress, community activities, and milestone events as the project moves forward…if you have any questions, comments regarding the new laboratory building construction and the overall Meadows Campus development initiatives, please feel free to contact Pink Bissett at PBissett@HHCorp.org.
Thank you for your continued support, feedback, and commitment to this important development project!
July 2025
We are excited to share the latest progress on the construction of the Marion County Public Health Laboratory. The project is advancing steadily, and here are some key updates from the site:
Site and Utility Work
- Underground utility has wrapped up beneath Rural street on the southwest corner of the jobsite.
Building Foundation and Envelope
- Concrete for building stairs has been poured, so temporary construction stairs have been removed.
- Limestone has been placed on the majority of the first-floor exterior, with the masons working toward the south façade (along 38th Street)
- Temporary lighting has been hung un the interior of the building and is operational, as the building continually gets closer to being fully closed in.
- The screen wall support systems have been set along the second floor and the mechanical penthouse.
- The roofers have nearly completed their work, getting the building one step closer to being fully dried in.
Systems Coordination
- Ongoing coordination with CIS, Facilities, and Security departments is focused on cable management, IT/data rooms, security access, cameras, and fire protection systems.
Interior Construction
- Interior framing on both the first and second floors is well underway, with drywall top out following closely behind.
- Piping and ductwork are actively being routed throughout the building.
Upcoming Activities
As the exterior of the building continues to take shape, additional trades will begin to mobilize on the interior construction. During this time, the project team will focus on:
- Continuation of exterior framing and masonry.
- Interior framing and ductwork installation.
- Pouring the concrete for the generator pads.
- Electrical rough-ins.
We will continue to provide updates on progress, community activities, and milestone events as the project moves forward…if you have any questions, comments regarding the new laboratory building construction and the overall Meadows Campus development initiatives, please feel free to contact Pink Bissett at PBissett@HHCorp.org.
Thank you for your continued support, feedback, and commitment to this important development project!
May 2025
We are excited to share the latest progress on the construction of the Marion County Public Health Laboratory. The project is advancing steadily, and here are some key updates from the site:
Site and Utility Work
- The new sidewalk on the north side of the property, along 39th Street, has been completed and turned over for public use.
- Underground utility work continues along Rural and the western portion of the project site.
Building Foundation and Envelope
- The crane for structural steel erection has been removed due to completion of that work.
- Underslab MEP trenching and rough-ins have been completed with concrete pours scheduled to be completed the first week of June.
- Exterior masonry is underway, starting on the east façade of the building and is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer.
- Temporary lighting has been hung un the interior of the building and will begin to be operational as the building enclosure is completed.
Systems Coordination
- Ongoing coordination with CIS, Facilities, and Security departments is focused on cable management, IT/data rooms, security access, cameras, and fire protection systems.
Construction Procurement Progress
- Key building components will begin to be delivered to the site in the coming weeks, including:
- Generators and Air Handler Unit
- Doors and Frames
- Interior Finishes
- Elevators, gates, and fences
Upcoming Activities
As the exterior of the building continues to take shape, additional trades will begin to mobilize on the interior construction. During this time, the project team will focus on:
- Continuation of exterior framing and masonry.
- Interior framing and installation of framed openings.
- Completion of all interior and penthouse concrete pours.
Beam Signing Ceremony
A beam-signing ceremony is scheduled for the 16th of June, to allow HHC/MCPHD employees, local officials and the public to add their names to an exposed steel beam which will be visible in one of the building’s main corridors on the first floor.
We will continue to provide updates on progress, community activities, and milestone events as the project moves forward…if you have any questions, comments regarding the new laboratory building construction and the overall Meadows Campus development initiatives, please feel free to contact Pink Bissett at PBissett@HHCorp.org.
Thank you for your continued support, feedback, and commitment to this important development project!
September 2024
On Sept. 26, we reached an exciting milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the new lab building on the Meadows health campus. We were honored to have Mayor Joseph Hogsett, the members of our board of trustees, and senior leadership from the Health & Hospital Corporation and the Marion County Public Health Department in attendance.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible, including our incredible construction and design partners, local community and neighborhood groups, and all the residents and businesses from the Meadows area who joined us. Your support is crucial as we move forward with this transformative project.
About 250 people attended the event, which commemorated the redevelopment of the three-acre site and the construction of a new two-story public health laboratory, clinic and administrative building.
The construction of the new lab building is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026. It will be the first new building added to the Meadows campus since the Avondale Meadows YMCA opened in 2013.
The new building will house the laboratory facilities of the MCPHD, and will cover nearly triple the floorspace of the current laboratory facilities, which are currently housed in the basement of the Hasbrook Building. The new lab facilities will include modular work benches, private offices, a conference room and daylight to support employee wellbeing. In addition, the expanded, upgraded facilities will allow us to perform some testing that is currently outsourced to external vendors.
The Bell Flower Clinic will also move from the Fifth Third Bank Building in downtown Indianapolis to the new lab building. The new location will allow the clinic to better serve people in the east side area, with the work areas designed to better accommodate our clients.
The new building will house the MCPHD’s Vital Records offices and immunization records, both of which are currently located in the Hasbrook Building. And the new building will include a large multipurpose community room for trainings, meetings and testing or vaccination clinics, and can hold up to 150 people.
We are excited to continue with the construction – our hope is to have the foundation of the lab building completed by the end of 2024.
September 2024 Construction Update newsletter
August 2024
- Perimeter fence, gates, construction trailers have been installed, PPE is now required on the construction site.
- 24/7 job site security began Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
- Wilhelm & Powers team will be installing large project banners in the upcoming week.
- The safety site walk was completed earlier this month with representatives from Health by Design, HHC, MCPHD, DPW, IndyGo, DMD, and the design & construction team.
- All safety observations have been addressed; Jersey barriers were installed outside construction fence along 39th street to ensure safe walking path for the community especially school children.
- We have started site work and demolition, as of Aug. 21 the Fish & Chicken restaurant has been demolished. The demolition work will continue over the next couple of weeks.
- The Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held on Sept. 26, 2024 at 2 p.m. You can find the event information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marion-county-public-health-lab-groundbreaking-tickets-970581614737?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=
July 2024
- Public Bid Outreach Event #1 is complete, and we are beginning to secure contracts for Demolition, Civil & Earthwork, Mechanical and Electrical Long Lead Equipment, and Structural Steel.
- There is a Pre-Bid and Outreach event happening June 28, at 10 a.m. at 4012 Building for Bid Event #2 which encompasses the remainder of the project.
- We plan to start mobilizing and begin SWPPP (Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan) installation in August.
- Building Demolition and Site Clearing Work will commence following SWPPP installation is completed.
- The week of July 15… We received a confirmation from the fencing contractor that they are available to start installing the construction perimeter fence line on July 15 (after the Covering Kids & Families Back to School Event). The installation should take about 8-10 working days to complete. After the fence is erected, there will be some adjustments to the parking location. Click here to see the map.
- Red = Construction Perimeter Fence
- Blue = Temporary walk paths and street crossover.
- Construction related vehicles will be parked inside of the fence and will not need additional parking outside the fence.
- Rural Street will remain open for the duration of construction
- We have contacted Save-a-lot to negotiate overflow parking for 3901 Meadows
- Facilities & Safety & Security departments along with representatives from Health By Design will be performing walkability and safety walk audit and inspection to ensure safety compliance prior to school starts.
- The perimeter fence planning and adjustment will be communicated out to neighborhood members, businesses, churches, YMCA, and schools around the Meadows Campus.
If you have any questions, please contact Pink Bissett, VP of Real Estate and Facilities Services, at pbissett@hhcorp.org or (317) 618-6408.
May 24, 2024: The Indianapolis Business Journal published an article on the construction of the new public health lab. Click here to read the article.
May 1, 2024: An Informational Session was held by Health and Hospital Corporation/Marion County Public Health Department staff concerning the development of the Meadows Campus over the next years. The meeting took place at the 4012 Building on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. HHC/MCPHD staff, project leaders and community leaders were invited to the session.
