The Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s (HRSD) Central Environmental Laboratory (CEL) plays a crucial role in providing water quality testing and services for internal analysis and regulatory control to over 1.9 million customers across 20 southeastern Virginia cities and counties every day. This construction management-at-risk (CMAR) project includes the addition and renovation of a state-of-the-art CEL facility to support future growth and enhance monitoring for the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT), as well as other programs. Located in Virginia Beach, this project is designed by CDM Smith and will serve as a critical hub for environmental testing and water quality assurance in southeast Virginia.
The $67 million project includes the demolition of an 11,000-square-foot water quality testing lab followed by the construction of a modern 40,000-square-foot, multi-story lab wing with a mechanical penthouse. The new addition will be connected to the existing 12,000-square-foot CEL facility, which will be fully renovated and repurposed for administration and support space. Throughout the three-year project, PC Construction’s Maintenance of Lab Operations (MOLO) plans will ensure the HRSD team remains fully operational in the existing CEL.
Temporary power, permits and site preparations are nearing completion, and demolition will begin this month to prepare the site for construction. Lean construction, daily afternoon huddles, modernized phase and pull planning tools, and closely monitored work by our subcontractors will fuel efficient progress and ensure each milestone is achieved with safety, precision and pride.
The success of this project is driven by a highly coordinated team of professionals from PC, HRSD, CDM Smith and carefully selected subcontractors. One of these professionals is PC Construction Senior Superintendent Chris White, who is excited to finally build a project from start to finish in his hometown of Virginia Beach after 42 years with the company!
As foundations take shape and steel rises, the HRSD CEL Expansion and Renovation project is more than just construction—it’s a commitment to progress built on innovation, driven by people, and anchored in purpose.