CSHL Breaks Ground on Lab Renovation

CENTERBROOK, Conn. – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory recently celebrated the startup of its new $75 million Center for Therapeutics Research with a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

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The renovation project, designed by Centerbrook Architects & Planners, completely updates the interior and exterior of Demerec, a mid-century modern laboratory that has housed four Nobel Laureates. Demerec will be home to the new Center for Therapeutics Research, which will foster advancements already underway in breast cancer, leukemia, autism, obesity/diabetes and lung cancer therapeutics.

The State of New York invested $25 million in this project as part of Gov. Cuomo’s economic development initiatives that include fostering a biotech corridor among major institutions on Long Island.

“We are at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory today, which is hallowed ground for scientific research. Eight Nobel Prizes won right here. You can almost feel when you walk onto the grounds that you're in a special place and great things have happened here. And it's very true,” Gov. Cuomo said. “The potential that we have on Long Island in this biomedical field, biotechnology field, I think it is unprecedented.”

The original facility opened in 1953 and has already been stripped down to its original cast-in-place concrete frame. The low floor to floor heights and large window openings typical of a mid-century building, required very careful planning by Centerbrook and engineering consultant Kohler Ronan in order to provide modern mechanical systems to meet the energy code requirements and today’s research laboratory standards.

“There is an incredible research history embodied in Demerec Laboratory, and it is very exciting to honor both the building’s past and to simultaneously create cutting edge laboratories that will be at the forefront of research studies once again,” said Todd E. Andrews, AIA, Centerbrook principal. “The renovation creates a more open floor plan, providing expansive views to the exterior from every research space, including unobstructed views of Long Island Sound to the north.”

Centerbrook has designed more than 100 projects for CSHL since 1974 ranging from master plans to various renovations and additions of historic structures, and new construction of research laboratories, event spaces, administrative offices and housing.