Federal officials are betting big on Lakewood’s role in keeping the nation’s food supply safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration broke ground Wednesday on a $228 million food laboratory at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood. The purpose‑built facility is slated to replace aging lab space and, according to federal documents, is intended to speed testing and outbreak response for food, drugs, and cosmetics. GSA materials project construction wrapping up by early 2029.
In a release, GSA said the new project will expand the FDA’s regional research capacity while delivering modern, purpose‑built laboratory space. GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst said the project will “enhance the FDA’s ability to ensure food safety,” according to the announcement. The agency pegs the project cost at an estimated $228 million and reiterates the early‑2029 completion timeline.
What the lab will do
Officials say the building will be outfitted with testing suites designed to speed outbreak investigations and widen the agency’s ability to analyze contaminated or suspect products. As reported by Denver7, the facility will house the FDA’s only Biosafety Level 3 laboratory west of the Mississippi, a designation that allows work with certain dangerous pathogens under tightly controlled conditions.
Existing lab and local footprint…