Facility Delivered Through Public-Private Partnership with Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure

Dallas County today officially opened the new Dallas County Health and Human Services BSL-3 Public Health Laboratory, $52 million, 63,000 sq ft facility located near the Dallas Medical District. Developed through an agreement with Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure, the purpose-built laboratory gives Dallas County the modern public health infrastructure its residents deserve — and positions the county to detect, contain, and respond to health threats faster than ever before.

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Delivered through a public-private partnership with Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure, the Dallas County HHS BSL-3 Laboratory represents a $52 million investment in the county's public health future.

What the Facility Means for Dallas County Residents

The BSL-3 Laboratory significantly expands Dallas County's capacity for rapid testing, disease surveillance, and emergency response. Residents can expect:

• Faster pathogen detection, enabling earlier public health action
• Improved 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
• Shorter turnaround times, reducing reliance on external laboratories and keeping critical diagnostic capacity within the county
• Enhanced regional coordination with hospitals, state agencies, and federal partners

Remarking on the new facility, Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia said, "For years, our public health laboratory operated out of a basement — a space never designed for the work we were asking it to do. 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."

A Modern Facility Built for Dallas County's Future

The new facility, constructed on a 1.6-acre site on W. Mockingbird Lane, was built from the ground up 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 — a roughly 25-month delivery timeline that reflects the coordination and commitment that defined the project from the start.

Strategic Location

Situated 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 significantly strengthens Dallas County's ability to partner with hospitals, universities, and state and federal agencies when it matters most.

Rodney Moss, Senior Vice President of P3 at Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure, highlighted the impact of the partnership model in delivering 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. 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 Project Management

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

Project Team

The full project team for the project, includes:

• Developer: Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure
• General Contractor: Beck
• Architect of Record: Page (now Stantec)
• Structural/MEP Engineering: JQ/IMEG, Martinez-Moore, Shah Smith, LA Foy, PGA
• Commissioning: Bernhard TME
• County Project Management: EJES

The Dallas County HHS BSL-3 Laboratory is now open and operational, serving Dallas County residents and the broader regional and state public health network.

About Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure

Hunt Real Estate delivers high-impact real estate and infrastructure solutions across multifamily, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, and public-private partnership (P3) sectors. Drawing on the full capabilities of Hunt Companies, the team brings together deep expertise in development, ownership, asset management, and long-term stewardship. With a client-first mindset, Hunt Real Estate assembles the right team for each project to ensure tailored, high-impact outcomes that serve communities for generations.

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"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." Rodney Moss, Senior Vice President, P3 at Hunt Real Estate & Infrastructure