Quest Building new flagship in Clifton

Construction is underway at Quest Diagnostics’ new flagship laboratory in Clifton, a planned 250,000-square-foot facility that is slated to become the largest in its vast portfolio.

Company leaders joined public officials and other stakeholders on Wednesday to mark the official groundbreaking for the facility, which will become part of the mixed-use ON3 campus along Route 3. Slated to open in early 2021, the lab will house more than 1,100 employees and provide enhanced diagnostic information services to more than 40 million people in the Mid-Atlantic.

The complex will occupy about 12 acres within the 116-acre campus owned by Prism Capital Partners.

A rendering of Quest Diagnostics’ new 250,000-square-foot lab facility at ON3 in Clifton — Courtesy: Quest Diagnostics
“Our new flagship laboratory will enable us to empower better health through a comprehensive testing menu, faster turnaround, and additional capacity to serve more patients and clients,” said Steve Rusckowski, Quest’s chairman, CEO and president. “Rooted in innovation, this new lab will also provide our employees with an inspiring workplace.

“This is a major commitment to our presence in New Jersey where we are headquartered, and it is good news for the health care providers and patients we serve.”

The diagnostic services giant, which is based in nearby Secaucus, will be among several companies and institutions that are repopulating the former longtime home of Hoffmann-La Roche, which Prism is now redeveloping and has rebranded as ON3. In fall 2017, the state Economic Development Authority approved a 10-year, $55.2 million tax credit award for Quest aimed at supporting what was an estimated capital investment of $230 million.

In approving the project last year, the EDA said the new building in Clifton would house more than 750 positions that are currently at a Quest-owned building in Teterboro, but were at risk of being moved out of the state. The proposal at the time also called for relocating 269 employees currently in Pennsylvania and Maryland, along with the creation of another 115 new jobs.

Steve Rusckowski, Quest’s chairman, CEO and president, speaks during the groundbreaking for the company’s new lab facility in Clifton
At ON3, which spans Clifton and Nutley, Quest will join the Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University and the biotech company Modern Meadow, which already operate at the campus. Prism has also secured commitments from Ralph Lauren Corp., which will occupy 250,000 square feet at an existing building that will be renovated.

Quest also announced Wednesday that it would make a $15,000 contribution to the Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey.