In early 2018, Clark & Enersen was selected by the State of Montana to assist multiple agriculture-related departments in assessing their laboratory facilities, formulating options for capital improvements, and increasing operational efficiency. Six laboratories clustered around Montana State University were reviewed as part of the study, including:

• Montana Ag Experiment Station Seed Laboratory
• Montana Ag Experiment Station Wool Laboratory
• Montana State University Pulse Crops Diagnostic Laboratory
• Department of Livestock Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
• Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Wildlife Laboratory
• Department of Agriculture Analytical Laboratory

All facilities were evaluated to determine current and future space needs, as well as code and engineered systems deficiencies. New programs were developed for each facility and analyzed to identify the potential for shared resources and to create several options for new construction and renovations that will be used to upgrade their facilities over time.

The current design calls for a new standalone building to relocate and house the Montana Board of Livestock’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Ag Analytical Laboratory, providing testing and analysis for water, pesticides, fertilizer, and agricultural products. The 47,700-square-foot facility received funding in 2021 at a project cost of $35.9 million.