Johns Hopkins and Turner-Mahogany Joint Venture Celebrate Topping Out of Henrietta Lacks Building

The facility is on track to achieve LEED Gold certification. 

Johns Hopkins and the Turner-Mahogany Joint Venture team celebrated the topping out of the new Henrietta Lacks Building, marking completion of the structural phase and a significant milestone in the project’s progress. The 33,600-square-foot, four-story facility connects to the historic two-story Deering Hall and is on track to achieve LEED Gold certification.

During the celebration, Coretta Bennett, Senior Director of Operations, Design & Construction for Johns Hopkins Facilities and Real Estate, reflected on the shared responsibility behind every successful project, noting, “It is not the construction manager, the owner, or the architect who can claim sole credit. A building stands because of the hands that physically assemble it. Every trade. Every craft. Every person on site plays a vital role in bringing it to life.”

Since mobilizing in October 2024, the project team has logged 26,647 craft hours while maintaining zero recordable injuries, lost-time incidents, and restricted-duty cases, reflecting a strong commitment to safety. To date, the team is currently achieving a 95.4 percent recycling rate for construction waste, well above the project’s 80 percent goal.

“Reaching this milestone reflects the strong collaboration across the entire project team,” said Tolu Dayo, Project Manager, Turner-Mahogany Joint Venture. “From the outset, we have remained focused on safety, quality, and disciplined execution, and we are proud of the progress achieved as we move closer to completion.”