NHBC Academic Laboratory Marks Key Construction Milestone with Topping Out
Final steel beam signifies transition from site work to vertical construction in the Las Vegas Medical District
LAS VEGAS, NV (February 6, 2026) – Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation (NHBC) marked a major milestone today in the development of the NHBC Academic Laboratory with a ceremonial topping out, hosted by Whiting-Turner, celebrating the construction team’s placement of the final structural steel beam and the project’s transition from groundwork to a fully vertical structure.
The topping out milestone brings together construction teams, project partners and internal stakeholders, including district leaders and board members, to recognize the collective effort behind the two-story, 34,000-square-foot facility now rising in the heart of the Las Vegas Medical District. Among its components, the project includes 504,440 pounds – or 252 tons of steel; 174.5 tons of concrete footings; and 11,000 square feet of masonry block. With steel framing complete, the project has moved beyond its early site phase and is taking visible shape as a new cornerstone of Southern Nevada’s healthcare and academic infrastructure.
“Our region’s vitality has been at the center of this project since day one,” said James Waddoups, president and CEO of NHBC. “And from here, we get to see a new day in Southern Nevada health infrastructure literally rise before our eyes. It will continue being a true community effort – encompassing the City, County, State, UNLV and more – and we’re ever-grateful for the ongoing collaboration.”
Announced in October 2025, the NHBC Academic Laboratory is designed to strengthen public health capacity and expand academic medicine in Nevada. Once complete, the state-of-the-art facility will support community health testing, advanced laboratory services and hands-on medical training, reinforcing the region’s ability to deliver timely, high-quality care while keeping healthcare dollars in-state.
The project is supported by a $44 million investment, funded through a $35 million State of Nevada American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant and a $9 million City of Las Vegas general funds grant. Sletten Construction is serving as the owner’s representative, with Whiting Turner Contracting Company as the general contractor and Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects as the project architect.
The facility will house a donor blood center and advanced cell therapy and blood processing technologies on the first floor and specialized laboratory spaces on the second floor, including microbiology and virology, tuberculosis identification, stem cell processing, drug toxicology and molecular medicine. NHBC continues to work collaboratively with University Medical Center (UMC) to finalize operational details, including coordination with a future operator for the blood center and advanced blood processing technologies, to deliver 24/7 health laboratory services using the latest technology.
By significantly reducing test turnaround times and introducing Nevada’s first Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-approved lab for high-complexity substance-abuse testing, the NHBC Academic Laboratory is expected to save the community millions of dollars annually while strengthening the region’s preparedness for future public health needs. The facility will also support UNLV’s academic mission by expanding pathology residencies and fellowships that advance medical education and workforce development. Construction remains on track for completion in late 2026.
For more information and future updates on the NHBC Academic Laboratory, visit nevadahbc.org.
About Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation
Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation (NHBC) is a nonprofit organization with the mission of developing healthcare research, education, clinical assets and programming in Nevada. NHBC’s first project, the Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building in Las Vegas, opened in October 2022. In addition to ongoing community endeavors, the nonprofit has received additional funding to build – via a public-private development corporation model – the NHBC Academic Laboratory within the Las Vegas Medical District. More information at nevadahbc.org.
# # #
Media Contacts:
For Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation – The Firm Public Relations & Marketing – 702-739-9933
Jesse Scott and KC Kappen: [email protected]