Industry News

IBM is planning a $1.5 billion expansion of its research and manufacturing operations in New York State. IBM will invest $400 million at the University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering as well as initiating an extensive expansion of its East Fishkill chip manufacturing and research facility. Additionally, a packaging plant will be constructed in upstate New York. Completion of IBM’s statewide expansion is expected by 2011.

Sacred Heart Health System initiated construction in July of 2008 on its $35 million hospital in Port St. Joe, Fla. Sited on 27 acres, the facility features private rooms, an emergency department, helipad, two operating rooms, laboratory services, and an outpatient medical office building. The project construction manager is Greenhut Construction Co. Completion is expected in fall of 2009.

Lebanese American University broke ground on the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chaghoury School of Medicine in Byblos on July 18, 2008. Slated for completion in 2010, the 12,500-sm facility will house the new medical school and the Alice Ramez Chaghoury School of Nursing. The $18 million project will include classrooms, simulation and training suites, an electronic library, videoconferencing facilities, and multidisciplinary laboratories.

Momentive Performance Materials, a silicones manufacturer, will begin construction in 2009 on an $81 million headquarters and R&D center in Rensselaer, N.Y. Consolidating operations from several locations, the project is comprised of a $65 million, 124,000-sf research and development facility and a $16 million headquarters.

Aspen Aerogels opened a $30 million manufacturing and production facility in East Providence, R.I., in July of 2008. The 150,000-sf project will be followed by two additional expansion phases at the East Providence campus. Aspen Aerogels, headquartered in Northborough, Mass., is a maker of aerogel thermal insulation products used in military and industry applications and hydrocarbon technologies.