Breaking Ground in Barbados

Principals and Senior Lab Planners Chris Cowansage and Malena Aquino, along with Associate Principal and Architect Lou Krupnick, recently traveled to Barbados to represent Page at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Barbados National Medical Reference Laboratory. The construction of the $9 million project will integrate Public Health, Leptospira and Ladymeade Reference Unit Laboratories.

According to the online news source Barbados Advocate, the Honorable John D. E. Boyce, Minister of Health, stated, “The amalgamation of the three public health laboratories will optimise the delivery of laboratory services, rationalise the utilisation of laboratory reagents and the allocation of laboratory personnel.”

The lab will accommodate spaces for BSL2, BSL3, accessioning, PCR, immunology, flow cytometry, microbiology, media prep, parasitology, food, water and air quality, and training.

Also attending the groundbreaking were the US Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, His Excellency, Dr. Larry Palmer, and representatives from the CDC and the Department of State.

The project is a joint initiative of the US Department of State (PEPFAR program), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Barbados Ministry of Health. Page/SST Planners provided lab planning services for the building which was designed by Lou Krupnick while he was with Swanke Hayden Connell Architects. Lou also served as Project Manager for the project and developed a pilot project investigating the viability of rainwater harvesting for domestic and potable water use at this laboratory.

Please scroll through our gallery at the top of the page to view images of the groundbreaking ceremony or visit the Barbados National Medical Reference Laboratory project page for more information. You may also read related articles at Barbados Advocate and Barbados Today.