The McDonnell Genome Institute (MGI) recently underwent strategic visioning to support:

  • expansion of clinical market share
  • increased NIH funded research
  • the addition of PIs with NIH funding
  • development of new technologies for genomics sequencing, analysis and dissemination.

Completed in summer of 2020, the renovation allowed for the consolidation and repurposing of former production labs, rebalancing the mix of wet/dry lab space, and provisions for proper office space support.

The project activated previously underutilized space within the same footprint and allowed the department to meet extended program needs without the addition of new square footage.

The renovation required a gut renovation of the majority of the fourth floor of 4444 Forest Park Parkway to construct new flexible labs with equipment rooms, tech write-up spaces, faculty offices, and a conference and break room. All new MEP/FP systems were installed with upgrades to building systems to support the new labs. Work included moving the Genome Technology Access Center (GTAC) operation from CORTEX to the newly renovated space and moving existing functions to make way for the renovation.

This was phase one of a three phase renovation that will accommodate genetics research expansion on campus.