Safeguarding Maryland’s Livestock Industry

Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory

Salisbury, MD

The Maryland Department of Agriculture plays a vital role in protecting the state’s agriculture industry from infectious diseases like avian influenza and equine infectious anemia. The Salisbury Animal Health Lab serves as a frontline defense, ensuring the health of poultry and livestock across the Delmarva Peninsula.

However, the lab’s original 1953 facility was outdated and lacked the capacity to handle the growing demands of multi-species testing and biosecurity. To maintain rapid-response capabilities, Maryland needed a modernized, high-performance facility equipped to support advanced diagnostics, research, and emergency preparedness.

EwingCole designed a state-of-the-art laboratory that expands testing capabilities, enhances operational efficiency, and strengthens biosecurity measures. The new facility features:

• Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) suite for high-containment disease diagnostics
• Two necropsy suites for poultry and large animals
• New incinerator to ensure safe waste disposal
• Shared storage building to improve efficiency across agencies

Inspired by modern farm architecture, the design integrates a customized pre-engineered metal building, metal panels, and aluminum storefronts to harmonize with the existing Mosquito Control building. The facility also prioritizes sustainability, achieving LEED Silver certification with:

• Low-flow fixtures & native landscaping to reduce water consumption
• Optimized energy performance for long-term operational savings
• Heat island reduction strategies to improve site sustainability

The result is a highly efficient, future-ready facility that enhances Maryland’s disease surveillance and response capabilities, securing the region’s food supply and economy.