Industry News

Durham biotech Xenobiotic Detection Systems (XDS) has doubled its lab space to 3,000 sf in the last two years and is planning a 5,000-sf expansion by year-end. The European Union, which requires that all food and animal feed be tested, has approved XDS' technology as a method of screening for dioxins.

National Semiconductor Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif., will build a state-of-the-art computer chip assembly and test plant 40 miles west of Shanghai, China. The $200-million facility will be located on a 36-acre campus in the Suzhou Industrial Park and will employ 500 workers. The plant will be operational in 2004.  

 Northwestern University began construction on the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center on its Chicago campus in March, 2002. Designed by lead architect Davis Brody Bond, LLP of New York and engineer BR+A of Boston, the 12-story building will house 9 laboratory floors with offices, a campus center on the ground floor, and two floors below grade for vivarium and mechanical rooms. Mechanical operations will also be housed on the second floor and the penthouse.

Scios Inc. is relocating its corporate headquarters to Ardenwood Corporate Center in Fremont, Calif. The new two-building location will allow the biopharmaceutical company to increase its operations by 70% to approximately 190,000 sf. The facility will house research labs, medical affairs, and business administration. Scios, currently located 20 miles away in Sunnyvale, expects to complete the phased move by September 2003.

ValleyCare Health System, a Pleasanton and Livermore community hospital system, is engaged in 180,000 sf of new construction totalling almost $94 million. Adding 40 acute and intensive care beds to its 97-bed Pleasanton hospital, ValleyCare will also expand operating room, clinical, outpatient, and medical office facilities. Currently under construction on the Livermore campus is the 65,000-sf "Lifestyle RX", a health, wellness and fitness center open to patients and the general population.