Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis began construction in the spring of 2022 on a six-floor expansion on top of the Steven & Susan Lipstein BJC Institute of Health building, which sits at the center of the Medical Campus. The addition, estimated to cost $165 million, will include 160,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory space.

The expansion will house a 7,900-square-foot biosafety level 3 (BSL-3), or high-containment, laboratory to support research on infectious viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and tuberculosis. BSL-3 laboratories use specialized ventilation and other systems that safely enable the study of viruses that spread through the air, so that scientists can develop diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines — all essential steps in controlling epidemics.

The building expansion also will include a 7,800-square-foot Biologic Therapy Core Facility, following Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations (enforced by the Food and Drug Administration), for cellular therapies to treat cancer; 100,000 square feet of expanded laboratory space; and about 44,000 square feet of mechanical building-support areas.

EXPECTED OCCUPANCY and SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION

Fall 2024

PROJECT TEAM

Lawrence Group – architect, landscape, LEED
Stock & Associates – civil engineer
KPFF – structural engineer
IMEG, Inc. – mechanical engineer
McClure Engineering – commissioning agent and vibration/acoustical consultant
Alberici Healthcare, LLC – construction manager

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PROJECT TEAM

Project Executive Sponsor: Melissa Rockwell-Hopkins
Project Manager: Lauren Leonard
Project Manager: John Hardin
Project Assistant: Stephanie Maples
Interior Design: Hannah Jefferies
Furniture Design: Caroline Kotowski
Facilities Director: Mark Hume
Critical Facilities Project Manager: Joe Rein
Critical Facilities Supervisor: Mike Brown
Area Supervisor – BJCIH: James Sweeney
Building Maintenance Technician – BJCIH: Josh Jenkins

Project Renderings

Winter 2021

  • Northeast Perspective
  • Southeast Corner
  • Elevator Tower

Get real-time and time-lapse views of the construction of the BJCIH Vertical Expansion.