United States
project
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Ajax was selected, along with AE partner RS&H, to expand the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory in Central Florida, a project that began in May of 2018. This facility sits on land donated in 1958 by the Bronson family. Irlo Bronson, a state senator at the time, had a vision for the animal industry and a facility for this very purpose.
The Division of Animal Industry is responsible for enforcing animal health regulations in Florida, as well as protecting the state from animal pests and diseases, which could have major economic and public health consequences. The functions of this department go beyond textbook veterinary medicine by consistently monitoring for high risk animal diseases such as African swine fever or the Zika virus. The Bronson Lab is the only animal disease diagnostic laboratory in Florida fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.
Ajax constructed a new office/laboratory facility on a forested site adjacent to the existing laboratory complex. The new facility, which connects to the existing building through covered walkways, holds $11 million in the latest technical instruments and includes laboratory space for virology, bacteriology, serology, histology, IHC, clinical pathology, and lab equipment compatible with BSL-2 guidelines. In addition, the project involved building new utilities parking and stormwater provisions. The site was also designed for a possible future expansion for emergency vehicle storage.
©Michael Verzella
COMPANY
sectors
services
Architect
RS&H
Client
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Location
Kissimmee, FL
SF
22,327sf
Architect
RS&H, Inc.
Owner's Rep
Florida State University
Contract Type
GMP
