CUH2A Partners to Secure Biological Pathogens in Former Soviet Union; N.J. Architecture Firm and Bechtel National, Inc. Join Forces To Aid in Global Biosecurity.

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Princeton-based CUH2A has signed an agreement with Bechtel National, Inc. to design laboratory facilities that will consolidate especially dangerous pathogens in secure repositories located in former Soviet Union countries outside of Russia.

As the world's pre-eminent architecture, engineering and planning firm for bioresearch and science facilities, CUH2A will provide planning and design of advanced biocontainment laboratories in Kazakhstan, Georgia and Uzbekistan as part of a Bioweapons Proliferation Prevention Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The state-of-the-art facilities will enable surveillance, monitoring and research of biological virus and infectious disease compounds by an international team of scientists.

"CUH2A is honored to be a part of this important initiative, which aims to reduce the risk of bioterrorism around the world," said Kenneth Drake, AIA, principal and project director, CUH2A. "Working with Bechtel, we will design cutting-edge scientific facilities to replace outdated and dilapidated laboratories that exist in those regions today."

After visiting several leading public health and technology facilities designed by CUH2A in the Newark and New Brunswick, N.J. areas, and conducting a competitive selection process, Bechtel selected the firm to design the new Central Reference Laboratories that will be equipped to safely handle, study and store hazardous biological agents, including viruses previously engineered and cultivated for use as biological weapons.

The first facility to be designed and developed will be the Human Health Central Reference Lab and Repository in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The facility will include state-of-the-art, internationally certified labs with diagnostic and confirmatory capabilities, as well as repositories, or "museums," for consolidated pathogen samples. Construction is set to begin in mid-2005.

When completed, the research facility will feature Biosafety Level 2 and 3 labs (BSL-2 and BSL-3). Laboratories are categorized from BSL-1 to BSL-4, based on the threat of the particular biological agents being studied there. Ranging from rabies to anthrax, moderately dangerous to lethal agents are studied in BSL-2 and BSL-3 labs, where all procedures must be conducted in a biosafety cabinet or other physically enclosed, HEPA-filtered (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) equipment. Additionally, BSL-3 labs feature enhanced facility designs with secondary barriers, such as entry air-lock separation from access corridors and negative airflow into the laboratory, to eradicate risk of dissemination of the dangerous or exotic compounds.

DTRA's Bioweapons Proliferation Prevention Program also includes a cooperative endeavor with several international health organizations to share research data gathered on biological pathogens.

"The construction of these secure facilities will help to attract and retain premier scientists from around the world," continued Drake. "In turn, these leading scientists will conduct vital research that can be combined with existing knowledge to predict and stabilize naturally occurring outbreaks of disease, and to combat potential bioterrorism threats."

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) safeguards America's interests from weapons of mass destruction (WMD or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high explosives) by controlling and reducing the threat to the U.S. and its allies, and providing quality tools and services for the warfighter.

CUH2A is the world's largest professional services firm dedicated to facilities solutions for science and technology. Founded in 1962, it is a recognized leader in the planning and design of technologically complex facilities, and is the largest architecture firm in New Jersey.