$33.6M Nashville State Lab Replacement Needs 6 Low Voltage Systems

A $33.6 million state laboratory replacement in Nashville, Tennessee requires 6 low voltage systems, creating an estimated $1.7 million opportunity for contractors in the Tennessee market.

Project Overview

The R.S. Gass State Laboratory Facility Replacement is one of the most technically demanding construction projects to hit Nashville permits in recent years. Located at the corner of Ellington Parkway and Hart Lane on Nashville's east side, this 180,000-gross-square-foot facility will replace a seven-story former tuberculosis hospital built in the 1950s that was repurposed as the state's primary public health laboratory in the 1980s. The aging infrastructure has reached the end of its useful life, and Tennessee is building from the ground up.

Permit records filed with Nashville's Department of Building and Codes show the project valued at $33,579,740. Funding comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through Tennessee's STREAM Act — part of a statewide push to modernize critical public health infrastructure. The new facility will sit on the 172-acre R.S. Gass Complex, which also houses the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation forensic lab and the state medical examiner's office.

This isn't a standard commercial buildout. A BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3) laboratory demands some of the most rigorous construction standards in the industry — specialized containment, redundant environmental controls, and security systems that go far beyond a typical office or hospital. For low voltage contractors, that translates directly into complex, high-specification system installations.

Project	R.S. Gass State Laboratory Facility Replacement
Location	Ellington Pkwy & Hart Ln, Nashville, TN 37216
Total Value	$33,579,740
Size	180,000 GSF
Project Type	Government / Laboratory
Status	Active — Permitted
LV Score	10/10
Source	Nashville ArcGIS Permit Data

Key Players

This project has attracted some of the top architecture and engineering firms in the Southeast. The team brings deep healthcare and laboratory design experience — a critical factor for a facility handling dangerous pathogens at BSL-3 containment levels.

Role	Company	Details
Owner	Tennessee Department of General Services / Tennessee Department of Health	State agency overseeing construction and operations of public health laboratory facilities
Architect (Design)	ESa (Earl Swensson Associates)	Nashville-based architecture firm with 60+ years of healthcare and institutional design, partnering with HDR on this project
Architect (Partner)	HDR	Global architecture-engineering firm with extensive laboratory and science facility portfolio
Programming Consultant	A2H	Engineers, architects, and planners who led the facility programming and needs assessment phase
GC Contact	Jerry Fannin	Listed general contractor contact on permit records — (615) 760-6731

Low Voltage Systems Breakdown

With six low voltage systems spanning life safety, security, wireless, data, and AV categories, this project demands a broad and technically deep workforce. A BSL-3 laboratory elevates every system's complexity — containment zones create unique routing challenges, security requirements are heightened, and redundancy is non-negotiable.

System	Category	Scope Description	Complexity
Fire Alarm	Life Safety	Full addressable fire alarm system across 180,000 GSF of laboratory, warehouse, and educational space. BSL-3 containment zones require specialized detector placement that maintains negative pressure integrity. Expect smoke detection, heat detection in chemical storage areas, duct detection for the HVAC system, and integration with the building's emergency shutdown protocols. NFPA 72 and NFPA 45 (fire protection for labs using chemicals) both apply.	Very High
Distributed Antenna System (DAS)	Wireless	In-building cellular coverage is critical for a government facility housing emergency response laboratories. The concrete-heavy construction of a BSL-3 lab creates significant signal attenuation. A DAS will ensure first responders, lab staff, and administrators maintain reliable cellular connectivity throughout the complex, including containment areas where personal devices may be restricted but emergency communication must function.	High
Access Control	Security	Multi-tier access control spanning public areas, general laboratory zones, and BSL-3 restricted containment areas. Expect biometric readers at containment boundaries, card access throughout general areas, mantrap configurations at BSL-3 entry points, and integration with visitor management systems. The facility's proximity to TBI forensic labs and the medical examiner adds inter-agency security coordination requirements.	Very High
CCTV / Video Surveillance	Security	Comprehensive video surveillance covering the 172-acre R.S. Gass Complex perimeter, building entrances, parking areas, the pedestrian bridge connecting campus buildings, and interior corridors. BSL-3 labs typically require camera coverage at containment entry/exit points for security audit trails. Expect 100+ cameras with a mix of indoor/outdoor, PTZ for perimeter, and fixed cameras for interior monitoring.	High
Structured Cabling	Data/Voice	The backbone of every other system. A 180,000 GSF laboratory requires extensive Cat6A and fiber optic infrastructure serving lab workstations, environmental monitoring systems, building automation integration points, and general office connectivity. Open lab concepts increase data drop density. Expect multiple telecommunications rooms serving distinct building zones with redundant fiber backbone runs.	High
Audio/Visual (AV)	AV	Educational laboratories and conference spaces require presentation systems, displays, and audio reinforcement. The facility's educational mission — training the next generation of public health lab workers — means purpose-built AV in training rooms, auditorium-style spaces, and potentially video conferencing infrastructure for coordination with other state agencies and the CDC.	Medium

Estimated Low Voltage Value

Signal's analysis places the total low voltage contract value for this project at approximately $1.7 million. This figure accounts for the project's six integrated systems and the elevated complexity of BSL-3 laboratory construction, where containment protocols, redundancy requirements, and government compliance standards push installation costs above typical commercial rates.

Total Project Value	$33,579,740
LV Systems	6 systems
Estimated LV Contract Value	$1,678,987
LV as % of Total	~5.0%

Here's how that value roughly breaks down across the six systems:

System	Estimated Share	Approximate Value
Structured Cabling	25%	$420,000
Fire Alarm	22%	$369,000
DAS	18%	$302,000
Access Control	14%	$235,000
CCTV	12%	$201,000
AV	9%	$151,000

For mid-size low voltage contractors in the Nashville market, $1.7 million represents a substantial single-project opportunity. The BSL-3 specification also means the bidding pool will be narrower than a typical commercial project — contractors need demonstrated experience with government laboratory facilities and the clearances to match. That's good news for qualified firms: less competition, better margins.

Skills and Certifications Required

This project's six systems span life safety, security, wireless, data infrastructure, and AV — demanding a workforce with both breadth and depth. BSL-3 laboratory construction adds a layer of specialized knowledge that separates this from standard commercial work.

System	Key Certifications	Critical Skills
Fire Alarm	NICET Level II+, TN State Fire Alarm License	NFPA 72 & NFPA 45 compliance, addressable SLC/NAC wiring, lab-specific detector placement, AHJ coordination
DAS	BICSI RCDD, RF Engineering background	Antenna placement in high-attenuation environments, carrier coordination (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile), signal testing, fiber optic splicing
Access Control	PSP (ASIS), Manufacturer certs (Genetec/Lenel/HID)	Biometric reader installation, mantrap configuration, IP networking, multi-tier credential management, government security protocols
CCTV	Manufacturer certs (Axis/Avigilon/Milestone)	PoE networking, outdoor camera installation across large campus, VMS configuration, video analytics, storage sizing for 100+ cameras
Structured Cabling	BICSI INST2, BICSI RCDD (design)	Cat6A termination, fiber splicing, Fluke DSX certification testing, TR buildouts, pathway planning for containment zones
AV	CTS (AVIXA), CTS-I (Installation)	Display mounting, DSP programming, video conferencing systems, room acoustics for educational spaces

Entry-level technicians with BICSI Installer 1 or NICET Level I can contribute to cable pulling, device mounting, and basic terminations across the project. Mid-level techs with NICET Level II or BICSI INSTC will handle system wiring, testing, and supervision of installation crews. The project will need at least one RCDD for cabling design oversight, a NICET Level III+ for fire alarm system engineering, and RF engineers for the DAS deployment.

Contractors bidding on this project should verify their Tennessee low voltage contractor license is current. Tennessee requires a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) or Electrical Contractor license for fire alarm and security system installations. Background checks and facility clearances are also likely given the government ownership and BSL-3 classification.

Market Signal

Nashville's construction market continues to rank among the hottest in the Southeast. The metro area has seen sustained growth in healthcare, government, and institutional construction driven by Tennessee's business-friendly tax environment and population growth exceeding 100 people per day in the broader metro. This state laboratory project is part of a larger wave of government infrastructure modernization funded by federal dollars — a trend that's creating opportunities across the state.

For low voltage contractors, the BSL-3 laboratory niche is particularly interesting. These facilities are rare — most states have only one or two — and the technical requirements create a barrier to entry that rewards specialized firms. If your team has experience with containment-grade security, lab-rated fire alarm systems, or government facility DAS installations, this project is exactly the kind of differentiator that builds a portfolio and opens doors to similar work nationwide.

The R.S. Gass Complex itself is evolving into a major state campus, with the TBI forensic lab and medical examiner already on-site. Future phases could bring additional infrastructure work as Tennessee continues to consolidate and modernize its public safety and health facilities in this corridor. Contractors who get on this project now are positioning themselves for long-term relationships with state procurement.

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