Industry News

The University of Pittsburgh is creating the John A. Swanson Center for Micro and Nano Systems with a gift of $1.4-million from the center's namesake. The center will be housed in the recently established four-laboratory John A. Swanson Institute for Technical Excellence, which will work in collaboration with the new center. The Center for Micro and Nano Systems will focus on applied research, giving companies and researchers access to technology, equipment and services for design, modeling and simulation, fabrication and systems integration.

The University of California, San Diego is planning to construct a new $50-million facility to house the Graduate Management School. The building is expected to open in autumn 2005.

Loomis Chaffee School has selected Boston-based William Rawn Associates Architects to design a new performing arts center and 18-classroom building in Windsor, Conn. The final design will be completed by year-end 2003 with construction slated to begin in 2004. The project is part of a $150-million campus initiative focused on theater, music, and dance programs.

Chip maker Actel Corp. is planning to move its corporate headquarters from Sunnyvale to Mountain View in fall 2003. Increasing square footage by over 20,000-sf, the 160,000-sf lease with Equity Office Properties will provide space to hire an additional 80 employees.

Elon University is planning to construct the $12-million Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center on its Elon, N.C. campus. The three-story facility, slated to open in 2005, will house classrooms, a trading room, a digital multimedia theater, the school's MBA program, and the Elon Enterprise Academy.