Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Once completed, the new High Containment Continuity Laboratory (HCCL) building will be one of just three facilities in the world designed to facilitate diagnostic research on highly contagious and deadly viruses, and the first of its kind to accommodate both human and animal diagnostics meeting both BMBL and ARS high containment criteria.

The design will maximize flexibility by providing BSL4 suites with both lab and vivarium spaces included, similar BSL3E suites and additional flexible suites that can operate at either BSL3E or BSL4 as needed. The facility will feature a myriad of safety features to keep the researchers and staff in the building safe:

• High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered supply and exhaust air
• Air pressure resistant doors
• Pressure cascade zoning
• Effluent collection and treatment
• Pressure decay tested coatings and penetrations
• High purity breathing air
• Chemical decontamination showers for research staff

The building will be connected to the existing Roybal campus utility systems with below grade utility tunnels and a two-level bridge connection.

This initiative increases the CDC’s research capacity to sustain its diagnostic mission and support its public health mission by helping communities prepare for, detect and respond to public health consequences of all hazards. The HCCL will accommodate approximately 80 laboratory researchers.

Fast Company writes about how labs such as this one could prevent the next pandemic