The renovated Rosen Building houses the Cell Systems Initiative, a multidisciplinary initiative that employs a variety of scientists. An extremely fast-tracked project to build new genomics labs conceived as a design-build effort whose main goal was to deliver the completed building at a record pace. Using every time-saving concept available to minimize and overlap design, permit and product delivery time, the project achieved initial occupancy in eight months.

The function of the Rosen Building is research and development leading to a future generation of techniques for understanding cell genetics. Laboratories are flexibly equipped with services and equipment to meet current and future needs for state-of-the-art systems biology. There is a 1,500 square foot BSL-3 lab suite in the basement of the Rosen Building. It consists of an ante room for gowning, a common support area with an autoclave and FACS caliber machine and three BSL-3 rooms with multiple biosafety cabinet work stations. There are sealed windows between the lab rooms for visual relief, communication and safety.