BASF Expands RTP Facilities

Ludwigshafen, Germany-based BASF plans to expand its Research Triangle Park administration and production facilities by 90,000 sf and renovate 20,000 sf of laboratory space. The German chemical firm is investing $22 million in the project, which will add approximately 100 jobs. BASF currently has 420 employees in 132,000 sf in RTP. By year-end, relocation of employees from a closing crop protection research center in Princeton, N.J., could increase BASF's Triangle workforce to 520. RTP houses BASF's North American Agricultural Products Division, the division's marketing headquarters, BASF's North American agricultural research and development effort, and BASF's global R&D functions. General contractor for the project is the Raleigh office of Greenville, S.C.-based Suitt Construction. Providing architectural design and engineering is the Dutch firm Arcadis, which maintains an office in Raleigh. Construction of the first three phases began at the end of 2001; the first phase, a 100,000-sf administrative office and cafeteria facility, is now complete. Work began on the second phase, a 20,000-sf lab renovation, in February of 2002. The addition of 80,000-sf of engineering and manufacturing space in the final phase will complete the project.