The South Dakota Department of Health has broken ground for its new Workforce and Education Center in Pierre.
The facility, designed by TSP + SmithGroup, will include a new two-story laboratory facility and administrative services and training building, which will be next to the existing public health laboratory.
The upper level of the two-story existing public health lab will be renovated to use the space for administrative services and training. It will also include a two-story addition for administrative office suites onto the existing building.
New square footage will total 83,364 square feet, with 37,972 square feet of renovated space.
Speaking at the April 23 groundbreaking ceremony, Public Health Laboratory Director Dr. Tim Southern said the facility will include 60,000 square feet of laboratory testing space.
Department of Health personnel will use that space to provide public health laboratory services for the entire state of South Dakota.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in late 2026.