Laboratories primarily include Biological Safety Level 2 (BSL-2) research; however, there is a BSL-3 Suite to study tissue samples and determine if further Level 3 research is needed.  A separate high-bay portion of the building is dedicated to large animal necropsy.  This area of the building uses a crane rail system to move whole animals through the area for dissection and disposal through a tissue digester.  

A sample trimming room consisting of tissue trimming stations is used to further dissect the animals into smaller samples that are sent to the laboratories for study.

Engineering Innovations:

• A state-of-the-art ventilation system was provided for the Necropsy Department to mitigate odors to the VTH and the community. This was determined and optimized by a wind tunnel study.
• Water conservation measures were employed by using the campus chilled water system instead of domestic water for equipment cooling.

A mechanical smoke control system was designed to evacuate smoke in the event of a fire in the atrium.  

The system was designed to operate without compromising the safety of the adjacent labs and BSL-3 suite. Fire modeling software was used to simulate the smoke control system.