Industry News

Freedom Forum ceremonially broke ground on the $400 million Newseum facility in Washington, D.C., on December 4. Actual construction will not begin on the 531,500-sf multimedia museum until early 2004, with completion expected in 2006. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects and developed by CarrAmerica Urban Development, the project will include office and retail space, a conference center, and 125 apartments.

Nanomanufacturing company Molecular Imprints is planning to expand its operations in Austin, Texas with the lease of 19,000 sf near its current 16,000-sf location. Molecular Imprints will also open new distribution centers in Germany and Japan for its semiconductor chip imprinting machinery.

The Science Park-Research Division of the University of Texas’ M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is expanding its Smithville, Texas, campus with the addition of a 10,000-sf conference center. The project includes a 300-seat auditorium and a new physical plant. Construction will begin in early 2004. The division’s campus currently houses five buildings on 720 acres.

Diablo Valley College, a Pleasant Hill, Calif.-based community college, broke ground in November 2003 on its new campus in San Ramon, Calif. Sited on seven acres, the $26.4- million campus will feature classrooms, three multi-purpose labs with 32 computer stations, four science labs, and art studios. A library, senior center and childcare facility will be built adjacent to the campus. The project is expected to reach completion in 2006.

The University of California, Davis is constructing the new Neurosciences Building. Designed by SmithGroup, the 238,000-gsf (138,000-nsf) facility houses 102,515-sf of vivarium, laboratory, and laboratory support space.