Fairfax County (Map, News) - Fairfax County plans to leave its decaying, leaking laboratory for a more modern facility to handle a wide array of health and environmental testing services.

The county is set to award a $784,000 contract to Reston-based Architecture Inc. to design the new building off Old Lee Highway in Fairfax City, a step in the completion of the project to provide staff a more functional and secure lab, Laboratory Director Mary Kitchen told The Examiner.

The current facility, also located in the city, is now more than 20 years old, she said.

“It is aging,” Kitchen said. “And we’ve had continuous problems with leaking plumbing, corroding fixtures and ventilation.”

Testing for a number of public agencies and services are conducted at the lab, including dairy, substance abuse, air and water pollution, tuberculosis, HIV and rabies.

The lab is now operated in leased space, which presents security problems, with cleaning and maintenance staff having access to the facility, Kitchen said.

Total cost for the project is expected to be about $6.5 million, she said, adding that county officials determined constructing a new lab would be more cost-effective than renovating the current one.

wflook@dcexaminer.com