Tissue Culture Lab Renovation
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Agriculture
LOCATION: Kearneysville, West Virginia
SIZE: $1,322,808
PRIME: AACON General Contractors
AWARD DATE: September 2021
COMPLETED: December 2023
AACON General Contractors served as the prime contractor for the Tissue Culture Lab Renovation at the USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, West Virginia. This project showcases AACON’s strong capability in performing interior laboratory renovations within occupied, environmentally sensitive research facilities. The work required precise coordination of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, specialized environmental controls, and dust-free construction methods to protect ongoing laboratory operations—paralleling the complexity and safety standards of medical and research renovations under VA ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) protocols.
The project scope included site improvements and interior renovations targeting Tissue Culture Room 220 and the adjacent Reproduction Room 217. AACON performed selective demolition of existing MEP systems and architectural finishes, then reconfigured the layout by subdividing Room 220 into two new laboratory zones (A220 and B220) and converting Room 217 into Tissue Culture Zone C-217, which was interconnected with B220 for seamless operational flow. Reused USDA equipment was carefully removed, stored, and reinstalled after renovation to ensure continuity of scientific operations.
AACON installed new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including a high-efficiency electric humidifier to support precise environmental control. Interior upgrades featured new flooring, acoustical ceilings, window trims, doors, frames, and interconnecting doors across all three zones. On the exterior, AACON replaced the existing Air Handling Unit (AHU) with a new model installed on an expanded concrete pad, constructed a new screen wall for aesthetic and functional purposes, and installed new metal panel systems and windows to improve the building’s energy performance and appearance.
