Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
The NCDA&CS is undertaking the biggest building project in its history — a new Agricultural Sciences Center that will bring multiple labs and offices together in one complex.
The laboratory complex will be built with $94 million in funding from the Connect NC bonds that voters approved in March. It is the first of the bond-funded projects to have its designer approved by the State Building Commission.
HH Architecture of Raleigh has been selected to design the center, which will contain offices and labs that perform tests for four of the department’s divisions: Food and Drug Protection, Standards, Structural Pest Control and Pesticides, and Veterinary. The building will replace four labs whose average age is more than 40 years.
Commissioner Troxler says the services provided by these labs are important to N.C. residents, farms and businesses. A new and modern design will promote the ability to use advanced modern technology and testing equipment. It also will be more energy-efficient. It will allow us to optimize workflows and expand programs. In short, the department will be better positioned to meet the future testing needs of our growing state and our $84 billion agriculture industry.
A multi-division working group has been involved in planning for this project for several months. They have been looking at business processes in each of the current labs so that the information can be factored into the design of the new lab.
The new facility will be about 200,000 square feet in size and will include labs and office space for about 200 department employees. The center will be located on state land near the intersection of Reedy Creek and Edwards Mill roads in Raleigh. Department officials are hopeful the project can be completed by late 2020.
Listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about the Agricultural Sciences Center.
[Audio:/wp-content/uploads/troxler_9-13-16.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for Sept. 13]
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