Industry News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have initiated construction on a $14 million laboratory project in Fort Collins, Colo. Located in shell space on the fourth floor of the CDC’s existing facility, the facility will house moderate to high level biocontainment labs, offices, and support. The project team includes general contractor JE Dunn Construction Company and design-build partner Smith Carter Architects and Engineers. Completion is expected in January of 2010.

Presbyterian College will begin renovating a 50,000-sf facility in Clinton, S.C., in April of 2009 to house its School of Pharmacy. The completed Frampton Hall will house two auditoriums, five classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, faculty and administrative offices, a clinic, and a simulation area. Occupancy is expected in fall of 2010.

PortaFab, a manufacturer of pre-engineered modular building systems, introduced the PharmaSystem cleanroom wall and ceiling solution in February of 2009. Providing an aseptic wall and ceiling system for new or renovated facilities, PharmaSystem utilizes a metal stud framework with walls hanging off one of both sides, creating a utility chase with a more economical panel. To create a smooth panel transition across the surface of a wall, panels have formed or cut edges to connect directly to one another and utilize a caulk joint, gel coat, or chemical weld.

Medical technology company Valeritas is engaged in an expansion of its laboratory facility in Shrewsbury, N.J. The expansion will add 2,000 sf of cleanroom and R&D space to Valeritas’ 21,000-sf facility. The construction manager for the project is Integrated Builders of Braintree, Mass. Valeritas, a manufacturer of drug delivery devices for diabetes treatment, is based is Parsippany, N.J.

Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center’s $270 million facility is slated for completion in July of 2009. The 12-story, 718,000-sf replacement hospital is hurricane resistant in winds up to 150mph. Robins & Morton Group is the general contractor for the project, which began construction in June of 2006. Attached to hospital is a 137,000-sf, five-story medical office building.