Industry News

HDR Architecture and CUH2A announced their intent to merge to create a comprehensive science and technology (S+T) design firm in early June of 2008. Bridging physical science, life science, and healthcare, the combined company will serve academic, government, and corporate clients with nearly 1,700 staff in over 40 offices worldwide.

North Dakota State University broke ground on two agricultural research facilities in Fargo, N.D., on May 30, 2008. The $12 million Greenhouse Facility will house research in plant breeding, pathology, and nutrition to create higher yield crop varieties. The Beef Cattle Research Center will support research in animal nutrition and physiology, feed efficiencies, genetics, and food safety. The first phase of construction for the Beef Cattle Research Center will cost $1.6 million. Completion is expected in October of 2008. 

Emory University broke ground on the Claudia Nance Rollins Building in Atlanta on May 30, 2008. The 160,000-sf facility is part of the Rollins School of Public Health and is supported by a $50 million philanthropic donation. Connected by a glass bridge to the existing 137,000-sf School of Public Health facility, the multistory building will open in 2010. Designed to foster collaboration with industry partners and the U.S.

Gaithersburg-based MedImmune is constructing a 710,000-sf manufacturing complex in Frederick, Md.  Fluor Corp. of Irving, Texas, joined the project team in May of 2008 and will work with Parsons of Pasadena, Calif., the original engineering contractor. The $250 million project broke ground in early fall of 2006 and includes a 331,000-sf biologics production facility with two commercial-scale bioreactors. Occupancy is slated for early 2009.

DuPont will initiate construction in 2008 on a new R&D center in Hong Kong. Additionally, the company will build a manufacturing and production plant in Shenzhen, China. Both facilities will support the development and production of photovoltaic technologies including thin film solar arrays.