Looking across an empty lot of concrete rubble and weeds at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, it is hard to imagine the same space will hold a state-of-the-art laboratory in two short years.

But Cornell and state officials took that leap of faith May 22 when, with shiny shovels in hand, they performed a ceremonial dig at the groundbreaking event for a new $80.5 million New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC).

The 125,000-square-foot facility, scheduled for completion in 2010, will be built with a $56 million grant from the state of New York, along with $24 million from Cornell and other sources.

Cornell's present AHDC is the only full-service multidisciplinary animal disease diagnostic facility in New York state, each year receiving 150,000 samples and conducting close to a million tests.

"The new Animal Health Diagnostic Center will continue to inspire 21st century discovery, strengthen our ability to successfully respond to emergencies and protect the animals and citizens of New York state," said Michael Kotlikoff, dean of the veterinary college.

Cornell President David Skorton thanked the three governors, beginning with George Pataki, who have been involved in the project over the years. He added that the new facility will give the nation's top-ranked veterinary college "an even greater role in this county, in this state [and] in this country."

The center, a partnership between the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the veterinary college, is designed to improve the health of food- and fiber-producing animals, companion animals, exotic animals and wildlife.

Complete with biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories, the center will advance public health through the diagnosis and control of emerging infectious diseases and zoonotic diseases -- diseases that jump between animals and humans, such as avian flu and West Nile virus.

The new building will have more space for equipment -- an issue in the current facilities -- will consolidate more than 200 people who are currently housed in 12 locations, and will have space devoted to developing faster and more accurate diagnostic tests, said Bruce Akey, the veterinary college's assistant dean for diagnostic operations.

The AHDC is also a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, "a true animal health system that is going to bring this country around … to get ahead of a disease outbreak," said John Huntley, director of the New York State Division of Animal Industry.

The new center's design incorporates green technology and will operate on half the energy used in standard buildings of the same size.