The Howard T. Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory is one of nine new regional facilities that will support research for the detection, prevention and elimination of diseases such as anthrax, hemorrhagic fever, influenza and plague. The building contains BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories, BSL-2 and BSL-3 vivariums and required support spaces. The University of Chicago has received a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), to construct the building which will be located on the campus of the Argonne National Laboratory.

• Commissioning plan and scope of services based on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Commissioning Guidelines.
• Commissioning of mechanical systems include supply air handling systems, laboratory and vivarium exhaust systems, cage wash exhaust systems, chilled water system includes one chiller and cooling tower, heating hot water system, steam and condensate systems, run-around heat recovery system, clean steam humidification system and the building automation system.
• Commissioning of plumbing and lab gas systems include the domestic hot water system, two independent lab compressed air systems and the lab vacuum system.
• Commissioning of electrical systems include electrical distribution system, emergency power system utilizing one emergency generator, paging system, lighting controls system, UPS system and security.
• Design phase services included schematic design, design development and construction documents design review, preparation of commissioning plan including development of prefunctional checklists and functional performance testing procedures, and preparation of commissioning specifications for incorporation into bidding documents.
• Construction phase services include periodic site observations, review of key shop drawings and attendance at periodic construction meetings.
• Acceptance phase commissioning services include spot checking of start-up and balancing, functional performance testing and compilation of design operation and maintenance information. Opposite season testing was performed. Extensive testing of all failure modes was performed, resulting in adjustments to ensure that the containment of the BSL-3 and BSL-3 vivariums is maintained.