LOCATION
Lincoln, Nebraska

AREA
65,500 GSF

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center (NVDC) includes diagnostic and research labs, offices, animal labs, and support facilities. Major functional areas include necropsy, virology/serology/wildlife, bacteriology, histology, and ABSL-3 laboratory. The diagnostic center is part of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. According to the University of Nebraska, it is Nebraska’s only veterinary diagnostic lab accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

The NVDC facility addresses emerging bio-containment and bioterrorism issues associated with contemporary food, animal, and public health safety. There is advanced diagnostic service, bio-security and instructional capacity, expanded research capacity, and public health safety. It is equipped with sophisticated, sustainable, safe, and flexible 21st-century instrumentation.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Building spaces, including administrative areas, office, and office support areas were designed to a minimum of Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1).
• Diagnostic laboratories necropsy, and laboratory support spaces were designed to a minimum of Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2).
• The design includes an Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) laboratory allowing work with biological hazards in small animals.
• Biocontainment is achieved through the use of the following:
  • Biosafety cabinets
  • Negative directional airflow
  • 100% ducted ventilation
  • HEPA-filtered exhaust
  • Impervious interior surfaces
• The design includes restricted access control via interlocked door sets.
• The building was provided with a voice and data communications structured cable system, including telecommunications rooms (TRs), pathways, backbone fiber/copper, horizontal copper cables, termination hardware, cable management hardware, and communications outlet faceplates and jacks.

Photography credit: Kessler Photography