North Wake News

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has initiated the renovation and expansion of its Reedy Creek Lab Campus in Raleigh. The project aims to enhance laboratory and public meeting spaces, accommodating various divisions within DEQ.

Currently, the campus hosts labs from DEQ’s divisions of Air Quality and Water Resources. The expansion will introduce new facilities for these labs and include the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, along with the Raleigh Regional Office for all divisions. Construction is scheduled to start in March 2025, with completion anticipated by late 2027.

"DEQ works to safeguard our air, land and water to protect the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians," stated DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. "This new state-of-the-art campus will help us continue to serve the people as we build a stronger and healthier North Carolina."

The upcoming campus aims for Green Globes certification, signifying achievements in resource efficiency, reduced environmental impacts, and improved occupant wellness.

Eric Turon, Director of DEQ’s Division of Facilities, Health and Safety remarked on the project's design process: "Through 3 years of design and development work on this project, our goal was to put DEQ’s mission on display through site and building design." He added that they aimed to create a campus conducive to supporting future generations of DEQ staff.

The expanded facility will feature a new 33,000 square foot building alongside 50,000 square feet of lab renovations. A hearing room for public meetings is expected in the first phase by fall 2026. The site will incorporate energy-efficient walls and windows, a depolluting roofing system, high-efficiency HVAC systems, sustainable materials, and photovoltaic arrays providing one-third of the office building's electricity needs.

Project partners include HH Architecture, Dewberry Engineering, Integrated Design, Storr Office Environments, McAdams Engineering, and Skanska USA.