BISMARCK – Gov. Doug Burgum led state officials in breaking ground Tuesday for the new North Dakota State Laboratory.

“Whether they know it or not, every North Dakotan benefits from the State Laboratory, from water and air quality testing to disease prevention and control efforts in collaboration with community partners,” Burgum said. “The new State Laboratory will allow for safer and more efficient workflow while also enhancing our capabilities to respond effectively to emerging public health challenges and environmental threats.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the new North Dakota State Laboratory location northeast of the Capitol. State legislators, cabinet members and leadership from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality gathered for the event.

The $70 million facility is being built with federal funds and is slated to commence construction this month, with completion expected by June 2026. Zerr-Berg Architects spearheaded the design of the 100,000-square-foot lab, which will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and scalable infrastructure. Kraus-Anderson is the construction manager.

Once operational, the laboratory will be staffed by about 50 team members from Health and Human Services and Environmental Quality.