Industry News

Certek, a Raleigh, N.C., builder of modular biodefense research laboratories, was awarded a $2.1 million contract to construct a biodefense lab for the Pentagon. The lab will be manufactured in Durham, N.C., and transported to Washington D.C. for use by military services.

The Smithsonian Institution will open the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport in December 2003. Contractor Hensel Phelps Construction of Greeley, Colo., began building the $309-million, 760,000-sf facility in June 2001. The facility will house 80% of the National Air and Space Museum collection not displayed at the National Mall location.

The United Parcel Service has completed the $44-million expansion of its Ontario, Calif., international air hub. The 176,000-sf addition expands the size of the hub to 676,000 sf. The hub's sorting capacity will increase by 53% to 107,000 packages per hour, creating 200 additional permanent jobs. UPS currently has 4,000 employees at the Ontario facility, which supports export operations between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is planning to build an additional biodefense research lab facility on its Bethesda, Md., campus. NIH is also investing in campus renovations and new construction including a research center, clinic addition, lab space, and patient units. Ground was recently broken on a new 25-room family lodge to accommodate families who have patients at NIH. Security systems upgrades including a new visitors center and commercial delivery inspection station are also planned.

Historic Normandy Farm in Blue Bell, Pa., is being transformed by Hansen Properties of Blue Bell into a conference center housing meeting space, ballrooms, banquet facilities, and dining. The $25-million project will preserve the former dairy's distinctive T-shaped barn. The conference center will open in June 2003. A 116-room hotel, previously on hold, is slated for occupancy in 2004.