PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island took a step toward improving its lacking supply of life sciences facilities late last month when state and industry leaders gathered on March 26 to celebrate the “topping off” of a new facility in the I-195 District.
The building, which will host PVD Labs and R.I. Department of Health laboratories, will provide seven stories totaling 212,000 square feet for life sciences and biotechnology labs at 150 Richmond St.
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Although a topping-off ceremony celebrates the placement of the last beam atop a new structure, more work needs to be done. Completion of the facility is planned for 2025.
The new lab facilities are part of an ongoing push by Rhode Island officials to establish the Ocean State as a biotech and life sciences “hub.”
“With the topping off of construction at 150 Richmond St., we are celebrating a major milestone in our efforts to create a hub for the bio and life science [sector] in Rhode Island,” said Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi, D-Warwick, who last year announced legislation supporting this goal. “I was proud to support the inclusion of $45 million in the state budget to jump-start the work, but making our vision a reality also requires the collaboration of our educational and health care partners. One of Rhode Island’s greatest assets is our ability to connect and collaborate, and that unique strength makes the possibilities endless for the Rhode Island Life Science Hub.”
Private life science spaces, via PVD Labs, will comprise much of the facility at around 130,000 square feet. Of that space, Brown University has already leased 20,000 square feet.
RIDOH labs will occupy another 80,000 square feet within the facility. The state health labs were partially funded by an $81.7 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Jacquelyn Voghel is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Voghel@PBN.com.
We need stricter restrictions on these large buildings that will continue to define the downtown and cityscape in our city. These modern bland architectural atrocities are ruining one of the last historic looking cities in the North East. Sad to think of Providence of loosing it’s historic charm, hopefully changes can be made at some point. I understand the rise of construction and costs in general and how certain styles can be more expensive, I believe if Historic could be involved and working with local in state contractors, ease and some costs may be lowered. I’d also much rather see any tax incentives or breaks these buildings see be put to this use and held up to keep the aesthetic of the city before it turns into another Boston.