Allegheny County Public Health Lab

Warrendale, PA

Allegheny County sought to relocate its existing facility into a state-of-the-art public health laboratory designed to meet present and future public health service needs, as well as accommodating the potential demands of surrounding counties in Western Pennsylvania. In partnership with Stantec, Rios Williams Architects (RWA) conducted a comprehensive feasibility study to evaluate the space needs of each laboratory and its personnel. This study included lease test fits, enabling the County to select the most appropriate building site.

RWA was responsible for designing the interior fit-out and preparing documentation for a single-story, 45,500-square-foot tenant fit-out facility selected by ACPHL. The scope of work covered the creation of specialized laboratories—such as Virology, Bacteriology, Serology, Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, and a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Select Agent Laboratory. The facility also incorporates a mix of private and shared office spaces, conference and collaboration rooms, a kitchenette and breakroom, areas for specimen shipping and receiving, and both short- and long-term storage solutions for chemicals, biohazardous materials, and chemical waste.