Industry News

Wilmington-based Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) is negotiating construction of an additional 70,000-sf facility at its Barclay Commons campus with developer Cameron. PPD, a contract research firm for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, has two existing buildings totaling 60,000-sf and 70,000-sf at the site.

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has received approval from the federal government to build a laboratory for the study of potential biological weapons in Livermore, Calif. Rated Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3), the lab will enable research in the detection of potential threats including anthrax, botulism, and other diseases. In planning the facility, the National Nuclear Security Administration reviewed 92 public comments and, as a result, incorporated 33 changes to the planned facility.

The City of Poway broke ground on a 5,900-sf council chamber building and a two-story 50,400-sf City Hall office building in October 2002. The $14.6-million project was designed by McGraw/Baldwin Architects. Douglas E. Barnhart Inc. is providing construction management services.

The Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial is slated for construction in Washington. The $100-million project, managed by Concord Partners of Washington, will include a 50,000-sf addition to the 30,000-sf National Bank of Washington building purchased two years ago for the museum by the Armenian Assembly of America.

Serologicals Corp. of Atlanta is planning to construct a $28-million plant to manufacture its EX-CYTE serum-free cell culture supplement for the biotech industry. Ground will be broken as early as the first quarter of 2003, with completion slated for the first half of 2004. Sited on 12.5 acres in East Hills Business Park in Lawrence, Kansas, the project will initially consist of one 45,000-sf facility.