Industry News

Battelle, an Ohio-based technology research company, opened its $20-million Harford County research facility in early March 2003. Sited on 89 acres at the Higher Education and Applied Technology (HEAT) Center in Aberdeen, Ohio, the facility will accommodate over 200 engineers, scientists and technicians in laboratories dedicated to chemical, biological, and technology R&D.

Vista-based BioFilm Inc.'s new headquarters will be built on 3.52 acres in the Palomar Corporate Center in Vista, Calif. The 60,860-sf leased facility, developed by Moxie Pacific Palomar LLC, will be ready for occupancy by Jan. 1, 2004.

The Alameda County Health Service Agency will break ground in late March 2003 on the second of three planned buildings at the Creekside Plaza office park in San Leandro. Developed by Creekside Associates LLC, a subsidiary of The Innisfree Companies of Sausalito, the 50,041-sf leased building will house the Health Finance Agency, Emergency Medical Services and Family Health Services upon completion in early 2004. The departments to be consolidated are currently located in offices in Oakland and San Leandro.

The Alamo Heights City Council has approved plans to renovate and expand City Hall. Designed by architectural firm Bartholomew & Co., the $4.5-million project will be developed in five phases over three years, expanding the existing 9,000-sf complex to 20,000 sf, including a 12,000-sf fire station and community meeting room. Construction is slated to begin in June 2003. The new facility will be ADA code compliant and energy efficient, featuring a geothermal air-conditioning system.  

Biopharmaceutical company Centocor has leased an additional 46,000 sf in Radnor, Pa., bringing its total site operations up to 204,000 sf. Centocor is a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Johnson and Johnson. The facility, owned by The Rubenstein Co., was vacated by Wyeth in its relocation to a new campus in Collegeville in Montgomery County, Pa.