Rain held off as groundbreaking attendees convened under a tent on a grassy lot at the intersection of Clifford and Richmond streets, where the future seven-story building will house the Rhode Island Department of Health State Health Laboratories as the anchor tenant with 80,000 square feet of space to accommodate biological and chemical testing for a variety of infectious disease, environmental and forensic testing services.

To help attract additional tenants and encourage a thriving mix of public and private entities focused on health and medicine, Brown signed a letter of intent to lease 20,000 square feet of laboratory space in the building for a period of 10 years — one of many examples of Brown’s “enormous role in driving the renaissance in this community by their thoughtful and large-scale investments,” said Josh Parker, CEO of project developer Ancora L&G during Monday’s event.

Brown President Christina H. Paxson said before the event that the University will continue to prioritize investments related to life sciences research and economic activity, especially when Brown’s participation can help to incentivize investments from new partners seeking a presence in Rhode Island.

“When we can fulfill our academic needs for additional space to advance high-impact research, and at the same time spark investments from new commercial partners, we see benefits not just for Brown, but also for the economic vitality of Providence and Rhode Island,” Paxson said. “We are excited to see this latest joint effort between state and federal leaders, Ancora L&G and Brown bring RIDOH to the Jewelry District. This new life sciences development is an ideal illustration of how we can have a bigger impact together than any one of us could have individually.”

The same day as the groundbreaking, Brown released a final Operational Plan for Investing in Research to propel research across all fields of study to new levels of excellence over the next five to seven years. In remarks at the event, U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin pointed to the plan, noting that Brown is an “economic engine for our state.”

“This new project will also create life sciences labs for Brown University and add additional biotechnology space, turbo-charging Rhode Island’s fast-growing life sciences industry and creating good, paying jobs,” Langevin said.

RIDOH Interim Director Dr. Utpala Bandy described labs as “the backbone of the public health system,” and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse hailed the sweeping benefits of the project — for which he, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Langevin and Cicilline helped to secure $81.7 million in U.S. Centers for Disease Control funding for its state laboratory portion.

“This is really important — it is important as a new state-of-the-art state facility that the state has badly needed,” Whitehouse said. “It is important as a partnership with Brown University, which we’re thrilled about. It is important as a launchpad for the biotech industry in the state. And it is important as an investment in our capital city.

“We’re four for four,” he quipped.

Given the importance of the funding her agency provided, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky was slated to participate in the groundbreaking but was unable to attend, due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, Reed said during his remarks.

Officials noted Brown’s substantial amount of academic activity relevant to the mission of RIDOH located near the new development, including education and research at the Warren Alpert Medical School, Laboratories for Molecular Medicine and School of Public Health. They also made clear the collaborative impact of the project and its potential to advance research that will benefit communities locally, nationally and globally.

“This location will become a true hub for life sciences and biotechnology — a place where world-shaping breakthroughs can happen,” R.I. State Sen. Joshua Miller said. “Thanks to Brown University’s involvement, this space will also help draw talent from across the world to our state and prepare them to become innovators in the workforce of tomorrow.”

Before the ceremonial shoveling of dirt to officially launch the project, Ranney closed out the speaking program. She extolled the impact of the public-private partnership that will welcome a thriving community of life science researchers and physicians to the building.

“For Brown, this project is also another example of the University partnering in a commercial tax-paying development that has immediate and long-term positive economic impact for Providence and Rhode Island,” Ranney said. “Together, we will continue to make improvements in medicine, health care, and community and population health for all of Rhode Island, the nation and the world.”