Industry News

SAFC Hitech, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group, opened its $9 million state-of-the-art cleanroom in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., on April 29, 2008. The 5,000-sf facility, comprised of an ISO Class 4 cleanroom, a distillation suite, and office space, provides in-house trace metals analysis and the capability to clean and fill containers in a tightly-controlled environment.

U.S. pharmaceutical company Unigene has initiated construction on a research, development, and manufacturing facility in Shijiazhuang, China. The project is part of a joint venture with state-owned Chinese pharmaceutical company Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, its subsidiary China Pharmaceutical Group, and NBP Pharmaceutical Company.

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare will open its new $89.6 million hospital in Franklin, Wis., on April 28, 2008. The five-story, 275,000-sf facility began construction in June of 2006 and houses outpatient care, surgery, an 18-room emergency department, imaging, physician offices, cardiac care, physical therapy, and a conference center. The project team includes HDR Inc. of Omaha as architect and CG Schmidt of Milwaukee as general contractor.

Houston Medical Center is constructing the 138,000-sf Northwest Patient Tower in Warner Robins, Ga.  The five-story facility began construction in spring of 2007 and is being built by Gilbane Construction. The project, which features 102 spacious private patient rooms, is part of a $75 million expansion and renovation project that includes a new $14.6 million central energy plant, a $1.2 upgrade of the Houston Heart Institute, and improvements to the existing hospital. The patient tower will include OB/GYN, surgery, and intensive care.

Stony Brook Southampton, an affiliated college of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, is initiating a $7 million renovation and expansion of the Marine Science Research Center at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences in Southampton, N.Y.  The 7,500-sf facility will be expanded to 14,000-sf and will house laboratories for aquaculture research and education. Additionally, Stony Brook Southampton is planning a $7.5 million expansion of its student center. LEED certification will be sought for both projects.