Press Release  State and Local Leaders Break Ground on New State Police Crime Lab in Marlborough

MARLBOROUGH — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration broke ground on a new facility in Marlborough that will serve as the home of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab. State officials from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), the Massachusetts State Police, and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) joined partners from the City of Marlborough, Greatland Realty Partners, and Consigli Construction Co., Inc to mark this important project milestone.  

Upon completion in 2028, the new Crime Lab will provide a state-of-the-art facility for more than 250 public servants in the Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services Division. The four-story, 200,000-square-foot building is being developed by Greatland, with Consigli serving as construction manager and Ci Design as project architect. Designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, the facility reflects the Commonwealth’s commitment to sustainability while providing the flexibility needed to adapt to evolving public safety demands and national forensic science accreditation standards. 

“Our Administration remains committed to supporting the State Police’s vision for a new, state-of-the-art crime lab because we understand the importance of sound forensic science in any criminal investigation,” said Governor Maura Healey. “As a former prosecutor, I know the complexity of this work and I’m proud to see this project provide a facility worthy of that critical public safety mission.” 

“The new State Police Crime Lab illustrates the power of state, local, and private partners working together to design a facility to serve the public safety needs of Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Activating a vacant site like this also delivers exciting job opportunities for those in central Massachusetts pursuing careers in forensic science. I look forward to seeing the project take shape and getting our teams ready to work in this beautiful space.” 

“As a nationally accredited forensic service provider, the State Police Crime Lab delivers an extraordinarily large volume of work in a variety of complex cases with precision and skill,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon. “Recognizing the importance of this generational opportunity to build a transformative facility, experts from the State Police, DCAMM, and their private-sector partners created a purpose-built design that will empower the Forensic Services Team to meet the needs of the Commonwealth today and for decades to come.”       

As a result of a competitive procurement and stakeholder engagement process, the Commonwealth entered a 20-year lease with two, 10-year extension options. The long-term lease approach allowed the Commonwealth to deliver the project several years faster than would be possible if the project had been delivered through a traditional state-funded design and construction process. The new facility will consolidate the current Maynard and Sudbury crime labs and accommodate more than 250 employees in a centralized location.   

“The work of forensic scientists and lab technicians are the foundation for countless successful prosecutions,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble.  “Today’s groundbreaking will bring us one step closer to having a modern, state-of-the-art facility to support that mission.  This lab will allow us to enhance capabilities not only for Massachusetts State Police investigations, but for the work of local police departments that rely on our services.” 

“This groundbreaking marks an important milestone in delivering a modern, purpose-built facility that will support one of the Commonwealth’s most critical public safety functions,” said DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke. “By leveraging a collaborative public-private partnership and a long-term lease approach, we are able to accelerate delivery of this critical project while ensuring a high-quality, sustainable, and adaptable workspace for the dedicated professionals who serve the Commonwealth through the State Police Crime Lab.” 

In addition to being well suited to the Forensic Services Division’s mission, the new location also: 

• Fuels economic opportunity by activating a previously vacant site on Greatland’s Marlborough Campus 
• Creates new jobs in the City of Marlborough and neighboring communities 
• Improves highway access for employees and enforcement partners who regularly transport evidence to and from the Lab 
• Enhances operational efficiency by consolidating the Maynard and Sudbury facilities into one centralized location 

“We are delighted to welcome this important public safety facility and its employees to Marlborough,” said Mayor J. Christian Dumais. “When state and local governments work together, the outcomes are always stronger. I look forward to partnering with both Greatland and state officials to ensure this project delivers meaningful economic, workforce, and community benefits for our city.” 

“This new facility represents an investment in the integrity of our justice system and in the scientific excellence that Massachusetts is known for,” said Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. “By providing state-of-the-art resources for the dedicated professionals who perform this work, the Commonwealth is strengthening our ability to deliver timely, reliable and objective forensic analysis that serves victims, supports public safety and promotes confidence in the outcomes of our criminal justice system.” 

“Greatland is pleased to partner with the Commonwealth in developing the new Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory,” said Kevin Sheehan, Managing Principal at Greatland. “Marlborough is an outstanding location in a business-friendly community, with access to major transportation arteries. We look forward to delivering this critical public safety facility, and an ongoing partnership with the Commonwealth and the City of Marlborough.” 

“At Consigli, we are committed to delivering the kinds of projects that leave the communities where we live, work and build better than how we found them, and this new facility – and the state-of-the-art resources and critically important services that it will provide – is a meaningful reflection of that purpose,” said Ryan Jennette, Vice President at Consigli Construction Co., Inc. “We are proud to work alongside Greatland as we continue our partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and support their efforts to strengthen infrastructure and create a safer, more resilient future for residents and families statewide.” 

A fully accredited function of the Forensic Services Division by the ANSI National Accreditation Board, the State Police Crime Lab provides a broad range of services in support of a fair and impartial criminal justice system. Its highly trained scientists respond to crime scenes, perform laboratory testing, and provide expert testimony across disciplines including criminalistics, DNA, trace, arson, explosives, drug chemistry, ante- and post-mortem toxicology, latent print and impression evidence, digital evidence, and firearms. The Lab also performs breath alcohol instrument calibration certifications and collects and processes DNA samples to submit to the national database. As part of its accreditation renewal this year, every operational function of the Lab will be submitted to a rigorous evaluation by independent experts and measured against national best practices in testing, calibration standards and forensic-specific standards. 

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