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University of Texas Medical Branch

Smith Carter along with joint venture partner B2HK provided the feasibility study and design of this Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) containment laboratory housing the Department of Pathology and the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases.

Integrating Historic with High-Tech
A major challenge was to ensure successful integration of the new highly secure lab with the existing historically designated building, dating to 1881. In addition, and paramount, the building must be safe, secure, and able to withstand the high-force winds in this coastal hurricane zone.

Developing this top-level containment laboratory demands that “safety first” is the top priority both for lab workers and the neighboring community. No compromises are acceptable. The building program calls for a research laboratory and associated support spaces to house equipment, virus collections storage, specialized fumigation equipment and chemical shower rooms for people and equipment as they move in and out of the lab.