Industry News

The National Institutes of Health will provide $70 million annually over four years to a network of nine centers engaged in chemical probes research. The initiative is designed to support the use of small molecule probes, an important tool for the exploration of cell processes, leading to the development of new therapies. The Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network is the second phase of a program begun in 2004 as part of the Molecular Libraries and Imaging Initiative under NIH's Roadmap for Medical Research.

Franklin Woods Community Hospital has selected Skanska USA Building as pre-construction and construction manager for its new healthcare facility in Johnson City, Tennessee. Karlsberger Architecture is providing the design for the 249,771-sf hospital, which will be part of the Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA) system. LEED Silver certification for sustainable design will be sought for the project.

Doctors’ Hospital opened its new 100,000-sf hospital in Bridgeport, Texas, in August of 2008. The 36-bed facility includes three surgery suites, emergency, ICU, MRI, obstetrics, and radiology. QHR provided healthcare and management consultation services. The project includes a 38,000-sf medical office building.

The University of Texas at Austin dedicated the $55 million Biomedical Engineering Building on August 28, 2008. The 141,000-sf, six-story building houses classrooms, research laboratories, and administrative offices for the Biomedical Engineering Department. The College of Natural Sciences and the College of Pharmacy also occupy individual floors. The interdisciplinary building features nine optics labs constructed two stories below grade for minimization of vibration.

3M has selected PM Group of Dublin, Ireland, to provide design and engineering services for a manufacturing facility in Wroclaw, Poland. Slated for completion by June of 2009, the greenfield project will produce aviation and aerospace adhesives and protective foils.