Industry News

Toyota opened the $187 million Toyota Technical Center in York Township, Mich., in October of 2008. Sited on 700 acres, the 530,000-sf project is comprised of a crash test and safety building and an engineering design building. The facility can accommodate up to 1,000 workers.

The University of Central Florida dedicated the $850,000 Siemens Energy Center in Orlando in October of 2008. Created in partnership with Siemens Power Generation, the 10,900-sf laboratory will provide collaborative research space for UCF and Siemens to develop sustainable power generation technologies. Construction on the facility began in January of 2008.

The University of Queensland opened the National Imaging Facility in Brisbane, Australia, on October 1, 2008. The project houses a $4.5 million PET/MRI system, a $3.5 million 9.4T scanner, a $2.1 million research cyclotron, a $1.5 million 1.5T MRI, and an $800,000 Micro Animal PET. The facility is housed in the Centre for Magnetic Resonance and provides advanced molecular imaging capabilities.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute opened the $200 million Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center in October of 2008 in Troy, N.Y. The 220,000-sf technology-rich facility includes a 1,200-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theater, artist studios and rehearsal spaces, and a 360-degree panoramic screen. The center supports collaborative creation and research in art and technology, including visualization, animation, and acoustics. Background noise has been minimized in the building, which features a nearly silent heating and cooling system.

The University of South Florida has selected HOK to design its new $82 million interdisciplinary science teaching and research facility. The 260,610-sf building will be located on the University’s Tampa campus.