Industry News

The Medical College of Georgia is developing a new research laboratory. The $1.9-million construction project will include the renovation of approximately 11,800 sf of lab and office space. Some existing synapses and cell signaling research labs will be torn down and replaced by new labs housing an electron microscope and two photon microscopes.

The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System (UPMC) is relocating to the campus of the former St. Francis Medical Center in the Lawrenceville area of Pittsburgh, Pa. This $575 million replacement hospital will house approximately 900,000-sf of clinical, procedure, treatment, support, and research space. Occupancy of the Lawrenceville hospital is expected in late spring of 2009.

Toyota Manufacturing Alabama will initiate a $20-million expansion of its Huntsville, Ala., engine plant. The facility is currently at 400,000 sf. The expansion will enable Toyota to manufacture 130,000 more V6 Tacoma and Tundra Pickup engines annually, bringing total production capacity up to 250,000 engines per year.

The University of Florida has recently completed a modular research complex of BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory space. Buildings for Science, a division of Britz-Heidbrink, completed the design, production, and installation of this world-class research facility in less than one year. The complex has its own mechanical room area, an office-break area, a unisex bathroom/change area, a pass-through shower into the BSL-3 lab with accommodating locker space, and two separate procedure areas.

Seton Healthcare Network is planning to construct a 451,000-sf, 164-bed children’s hospital in Austin, Texas. Sited on 30 acres at the 709-acre former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, the $175-million facility is expected to break ground in 2004 and open in 2007. Adjacent to the new hospital, 100,000 sf of medical office space is planned  at a construction cost of approximately $30-million.