The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially broken ground on a new premier food lab at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood.
The $228 million project will include 16,500 square feet of new lab space for microbiology and 14,000 square feet for chemistry. The new laboratory will expand FDA’s research capability to manage foodborne illness outbreaks and ensure product safety for food, drugs and cosmetics. This leading-edge facility not only replaces an aging, outdated workspace but also updates the Denver lab with a 21st-century operations capability that will make it a critical hub for generations to come.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, GSA is strengthening our federal mission through high-impact, vital investments,” said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. “Departing from the Biden Administration’s unfounded sustainability claims, the design ensures a classical aesthetic that will inspire the community for generations to come. By replacing outdated infrastructure, expanding laboratory space, and delivering purpose-built facilities for our federal partners, we are enhancing the FDA’s ability to ensure food safety and provide lasting security to American taxpayers and the nation.”
The lab’s exterior design is in the neoclassical style, aligning with President Trump’s Executive Order 14344, “Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again.” The interior will include controlled access and a sustained directional airflow system. It will be the FDA’s only Biosafety Level 3 facility west of the Mississippi River.
“Laboratories are vital to the FDA’s mission to ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply,” said Kyle Diamantas, acting FDA Commissioner. “The groundbreaking of this modernized facility represents an investment in our future, better enabling FDA to advance its food safety priorities and other strategic commitments aimed at elevating the health and wellness of Americans.”
Project completion is scheduled for early 2029.
