Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center to Add $94 Million State-of-the-Art Laboratory
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is expanding its New Bolton Center in Kennett Square with a $94 million laboratory addition, consolidating critical veterinary diagnostic and research services under one roof.
The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will bring together two state-funded programs—the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology Research Laboratory and the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System—which were previously spread across multiple sites. Centralizing these operations aims to streamline workflows and improve efficiency in disease detection, research, and biosecurity.
A Modern Facility for Advanced Veterinary Science
Spanning 63,000 square feet across two floors, the new facility will include:
Wet research laboratories for cutting-edge veterinary studies
Office space for researchers and veterinary scientists
A specialized necropsy suite for detailed post-mortem examinations, helping identify causes of death, disease progression, and other health concerns
Biosafety Level 3 laboratory space for studying potentially dangerous pathogens
The project, largely funded by the state, is currently awaiting regulatory approval. Once completed, it will centralize and modernize diagnostic and research capabilities, providing a purpose-built environment for veterinary science that previously required multiple, remote locations.
“The building will allow everything to be centralized and modernized in an all-purpose facility built for this kind of research,” said Mark Kocent, Penn’s university architect.
The expansion reflects the ongoing investment in veterinary diagnostics, animal health research, and public biosecurity, and will position New Bolton Center to better respond to emerging animal health threats while supporting equine and small animal research.
