The new Biosecurity Research Institute building will be ready for occupancy in October, said James Guikema, associate and research vice provost.

The building will be a bio-safety level three building, which means it will secure microorganisms and will be able to protect those working with the organisms.

With thick concrete walls and the air entering and leaving the building being filtered, the building is unique among bio-safety buildings, James Stack, director of BRI, said.

The building will contain veterinary medical, food safety and plant pathology laboratories, Stack said.

"It's a pretty exciting opportunity for K-State," Stack said.

Workers in the building will be required to enter a room, remove their clothes, enter another room, take a shower, then in another room put on scrubs.

The building will also require the use of smart cards, which will regulate the parts of the facility workers are cleared to enter.

Security for the facility is still being worked out, as is the support staff.

"We're working out a lot of details right now," Stack said.

So far the building has an operations manager and a bio-safety officer, but security may only be partially run by K-State.

Workers will be required to have a criminal background check, and scientists in the building will have additional scrutiny in respect to their backgrounds, Stack said.

As far as custodial and support staff, the building may go with a select agent to provide those services.