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
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 1, 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.
