Chester County · East Marlborough Township · #LD-10-25-18667
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
East Marlborough Township, PA · 62,526 sq ft non-residential, institutional · 152.3 acres
About this project
A new two-story institutional building of about 62,526 square feet, with parking, on a 152-acre site in East Marlborough Township.
Official description: 1 proposed INS 2 story building, 62,526 SF w/ parking
- Plan type
- Land development
- Land use
- Educational Facility
- Status
- Reviewed
Filing history
- 2025-10-16 · #LD-10-25-18667 · Land development · 62,546 sq ft
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
A new two-story veterinary diagnostic laboratory of about 62,500 square feet, with parking, is proposed on a 152-acre site in East Marlborough Township. County records list it as an institutional project.
Public coverage points to the Penn Vet New Bolton Center campus near Kennett Square as the likely match. Its new $94 million laboratory is described as about 63,000 square feet and two stories. The sources do not name the township, so the match rests on size, type and location. The campus is a working veterinary hospital and farm, so the site is already institutional and agricultural.
The building would bring together two state-supported programs, one for animal diagnostics and one for equine toxicology, now spread across several buildings and leased space. Construction was reported as started in October 2026. Finish is expected in 2028, with move-in in 2029.
What it could mean nearby
- Construction traffic is likely through 2028 on the roads serving the campus, though the sources give no traffic study.
- The lab is meant to consolidate existing operations, so large job growth is not indicated in the sources.
- The project sits on an existing campus, so it does not appear to add homes or remove neighborhood open space.
Where it stands
News coverage reports that construction started in October 2026, so the main approvals appear to be in place, though no township approval record was found. Next steps are building construction, inspections, and occupancy by the lab programs.
- 2029 Both laboratory programs are scheduled to move in
- 2028 Construction is expected to finish
- Oct 2026 Construction start reported
- Jan 2026 Penn Vet announced the $94 million lab, with construction planned for fall pending regulatory approval
- Oct 16, 2025 Latest county planning filing
Want to weigh in? The East Marlborough Township supervisors and planning commission handle local land-development reviews; residents can check their meeting agendas for any remaining items.
Who's behind it
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet), New Bolton Center · Penn Vet is the university's veterinary school, and New Bolton Center is its large-animal hospital and research campus near Kennett Square.
Around the web
- Penn Vet Starts Construction on $94 Million Chester County LabMyChesCo · Oct 4, 2026Reports construction has started on the 63,000-square-foot lab, with completion expected in 2028 and move-in in 2029.
- Penn Vet new building in Chester County, $94 millionThe Daily Pennsylvanian · Jan 26, 2026Describes the two-story lab at the New Bolton Center campus, with construction planned for fall 2026 after regulatory approval.
- New Bolton Center Veterinary Diagnostic LaboratoryPenn FacilitiesLists the planned 63,000-square-foot lab at 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square.
Planning terms explained
- Institutional
- A land-use category for buildings such as universities, hospitals and labs rather than homes or shops.
- Land development
- The township review of a site plan for new buildings, parking and stormwater.
- BSL-3
- A biosafety level for labs that handle germs that can cause serious disease, with extra containment.
- Necropsy
- An animal autopsy used to find the cause of illness or death.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $21.9M
- ~312 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~156 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
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