Construction Update

Regional Biocontainment Laboratory
Address: Located behind the Animal Sciences Research Center, off East Campus Drive
Owner: University of Missouri
Architect: K&S Associates, St. Louis
Cost: $18.4 million

The University of Missouri-Columbia Regional Biocontainment Laboratory is one of only 13 such structures in the United States. The center conducts research on bioterrorism pathogens. The creation of the facility was funded by a $13.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The lab is designed to assist in national, state and local public-health efforts in the event of a bioterrorist or infectious disease emergency. The facility will allow scientists to provide state-of-the-art training for graduate and postdoctoral students, scientists and laboratory animal medicine veterinarians. Design and construction began in fall 2006. Although construction of the building has been completed, the facility is still being tested to make sure all the systems are working properly. Until this phase is complete, officials are unsure about when the building will be up and running. The lab will be dedicated Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.

Fire Station No. 7
Address: 400 Green Meadows Circle
Owner/Developer: The City of Columbia
General Contractor: GBH Builders, Jefferson City
Available Area: 7,891 square feet
Estimated Completion Date: Feb. 1, 2009
Architect: Peckham & Wright Architects

Fire Station No. 7 is nearly complete and will replace the current facility at 3601 S. Providence Road. The cost of the building, just over $1.7 million, was funded by a voter-approved extension to the quarter-cent capital improvement sales tax. Part of the plan was to replace the current building because of existing structural issues and to move the fire station to a location that would aid fire fighters in providing better coverage and improving response times.

The land the building sits on was purchased for $287,647. An additional tract of land was later bought for $110,585.

The station will serve south central Columbia and also act as a resource of staff and equipment for the entire city. The building  includes three drive-through bays and living quarters and was designed to qualify as a LEED-certified project. Fire Station No. 7 will operate with three people on duty every day as a single company station.