Dallas County has officially opened the new Dallas County Health and Human Services BSL-3 Public Health Laboratory, a $52 million, 63,000-SF facility near the Dallas Medical District.

Developed in a public-private partnership with Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure, the laboratory gives Dallas County a modern public health infrastructure and positions the county to detect, contain, and respond to health threats “faster than ever before.”

“For years, our public health laboratory operated out of a basement—a space never designed for the work we were asking it to do,” Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia said in a statement. “Today, Dallas County has the facility its residents have always deserved—one that will help us detect threats faster, contain outbreaks sooner, and respond to tomorrow’s unknowns with the scientific capability this community expects.”

The project was first announced in 2023.

What the state-of-the-art facility brings to Dallas County

The BSL-3 Laboratory greatly expands Dallas County’s capacity for rapid testing, disease surveillance, and emergency response.

Per Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure, highlights of the new facility include:

:: Faster pathogen detection, allowing for earlier public health action

:: Better outbreak containment, reducing the spread of communicable diseases in schools, long-term care facilities, and neighborhoods

:: Greater surge capacity during pandemics, severe flu seasons, or biothreat events

:: Faster turnaround times, reducing reliance on external laboratories and keeping critical diagnostic capacity within the county

:: Improved regional coordination with hospitals, state agencies, and federal partners

Includes a Level 3 biosafety lab

The new facility, constructed on a 1.6-acre site on West Mockingbird Lane, was engineered to meet Dallas County’s current and long-term operational needs. It includes one fully compliant Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory, along with multiple BSL-2 and BSL-1 laboratories—all designed to meet National Institutes of Health biosafety guidelines.

Advanced directional airflow systems, HEPA filtration, controlled access zones, and redundant mechanical and power systems ensure the facility can operate continuously, even during severe weather or public health emergencies.

Construction began in December 2023, and the Dallas County HHS team took occupancy in January 2026, marking a roughly 25-month delivery timeline that underscores the coordination and commitment that defined the project from the start, Hunt Realty & Infrastructure said.

Project location and partnership

Located just minutes from Parkland Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical School, and the region’s leading healthcare institutions, the laboratory is positioned to serve as a hub for regional coordination during disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. Its proximity to the Medical District bolsters Dallas County’s ability to partner with hospitals, universities, and state and federal agencies at critical times.

Rodney Moss, SVP of P3 at Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure, stressed the impact of the partnership model in developing the project.

“Public-Private Partnerships work best when both sides are fully committed to a shared mission — and that’s exactly what we experienced with Dallas County,” Moss said. “P3 delivery gave this project the speed, flexibility, and technical expertise needed to bring a highly complex BSL-3 facility to life on an aggressive timeline and within budget. Hunt is incredibly proud to have played a role in delivering infrastructure that will protect the health of Dallas County residents for generations to come.”

Funding and team

The project was financed solely through federal ARPA funding, with a strict cap of $52 million and a requirement to commit those funds before the end of 2024. During construction, Dallas County committed an additional $5 million from opioid settlement funds to finish third-floor office space, ensuring the public health workforce has a modern environment that supports the laboratory’s mission.

The construction team delivered the project on time and on budget working in collaboration with the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association and the Regional Black Contractors that represent small and minority-owned business enterprises. EJES, another minority firm was contracted to provide project management services.

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