DHEC breaks ground on new laboratory aimed at meeting future needs

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The state department of health and environmental control, known as DHEC, is splitting into two separate organizations.

However, both public health and environmental science agencies will need a lab capable of serving today’s needs.

“I heard today that we have a roof over a roof to make sure this building will get by. South Carolina continues to grow. Our needs and challenges will continue to grow,” said Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

“One of the biggest issues we see right now is chronic illness, such as hypertension, diabetes and those sorts of things,” said DHEC director Dr. Edward Simmer. “We also are focused right now on infant and maternal mortality.”

In order to address the public health issues of today, DHEC broke ground Thursday afternoon on a new $116 million lab. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.

The current building lacks space and suffers from maintenance issues. 

“The new lab will be almost double the space of the old lab. There’s a lot of tests we do today that we didn’t have 40 years ago. We’re having trouble doing all of those because of lack of space,” Dr. Simmer said. “The new lab will have that. Another thing is that the instruments we use are very sensitive to temperature and humidity. That building is not good with temperature and humidity control. This building is specifically engineered so those instruments can work at their peak.”

The building will also be used by the Department of Environmental Sciences, the other agency that DHEC is splitting into. 

The new lab will also allow DHEC to add to the 300 employees currently working at the existing facility. 

“Their exceptional work leads to safe drinking water, clean rivers and streams and air quality that is healthy to breathe,” said Myra Reece, DHEC environmental affairs director. “Ordinary to some, extraordinary to us.”

“As we move forward with the future of both public health and the environment in South Carolina, we’re working to make sure our health services are better integrated and we better serve the people of South Carolina,” Simmer said. “I think we have a great future ahead of us.”

The new lab will have an open floor plan and flexibility to adopt new technologies in the future.

The old lab is expected to serve as office or storage space once the new building is completed.