A ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Oct. 17, 2025, in downtown Providence, R.I., to mark the completion of the 150 Richmond St. building, a 212,000-sq.-ft. life sciences development.
The seven-story structure is anchored by the new Rhode Island Department of Health State Laboratories and is the eighth building to be completed in the 195 District.
It was developed by Legal & General, designed by Kansas City, Mo.-based HOK, and built by Dimeo Construction, with offices in Boston and Johnston, R.I.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee was joined at the event by representatives of the 195 District and numerous political dignitaries, including the Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse; U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo; state House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi; and state Senate President Valarie Lawson.
Other guests in attendance were Marc Crisafulli, chair of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission; Stefan Pryor, Rhode Island's Secretary of Commerce; Dr. Glen Gallagher, director of the State Health Lab; Mark Turco, president and CEO of RI Life Science Hub; and Caroline Skuncik, executive director of the 195 District.
"150 Richmond is our latest addition to a thriving 195 District that has put Rhode Island on the map for the life sciences industry," McKee said during his remarks. "Not only do the new State Health Laboratories provide the ideal environment for our researchers at the Rhode Island Department of Health, but the life science incubator and available business spaces in the building set the stage for exciting public-private collaborations in the future."
Crisafulli noted that the state's economic future depended heavily on a growing life sciences sector, something for which 150 Richmond was designed.
"[It] adds more than just square footage — it adds momentum. It adds jobs. It adds vitality. It continues to fill in the fabric of the 195 District, which is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic places to live, work and innovate in New England," he said.
Construction of the new state health laboratories in Providence was financed by an $81.7 million Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Space Set Aside for Life Science Incubator, Private Companies
Serving as an anchor tenant, the new state laboratory structure provides a larger, more modern and technologically advanced workspace than the former lab building, according to a news release from McKee's office.
"Rhode Island sorely needed a new state health lab, and I am delighted that we were able to leverage our investment to bolster our burgeoning life sciences industry," said Shekarchi. "By bringing together world-class public health infrastructure, cutting-edge research space and private innovation, we are creating a powerful engine for economic growth, scientific discovery and community wellbeing."
The updated space will provide the state health labs with the flexibility needed to quickly respond to emerging threats and apply new technologies, such as the expanding field of genome sequencing.
From testing for infectious diseases to working with law enforcement, and monitoring the safety of the state's air, food, water and beaches, the new lab facilities will provide critical services to keep Rhode Islanders healthy and safe.
Like the former location, the new building also includes a highly secure Biosafety Level 2 and 3 facility equipped to safely perform environmental, forensic, chemical and biological testing.
In addition to the state health laboratories, the building will house Ocean State Labs, Rhode Island's first life science incubator. Powered by Portal Innovations, with financial support from the RI Life Science Hub, the 195 District and Brown University, Ocean State Labs recently announced the first five start-up companies that will be housed in the incubator when it opens in early 2026.
Plans call for three floors of the new structure to be set aside for private companies, McKee's office said.
Several state partners collaborated to bring the 150 Richmond project to fruition, including the 195 District, and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, Department of Administration, Executive Office of Health and Human Services and Department of Health.
"The staff at the State Health Laboratories work every day to keep Rhode Islanders and their communities healthy and safe," said Dr. Jerry Larkin, director of the state's health agency. "This much-needed modern facility will help us better serve Rhode Islanders, perform cutting-edge laboratory science and quickly respond to emergencies and other public health events.
"We are incredibly grateful to the CDC, our congressional delegation and all our laboratory staff for helping turn our vision for state-of-the-art labs into a reality and solidify Rhode Island's position as a leader in public health and scientific innovation," he said.
State Commerce Secretary Pryor noted, "By co-locating our state health laboratory with a private sector lab and incubation space, we are leveraging a key state asset in order to drive innovation and economic activity. This space exemplifies how strategic investment and partnership can position Rhode Island to compete nationally in the life sciences space."
