Industry News

The University of California, Berkeley is planning to initiate construction on the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) in the first quarter of 2003. The $60-million, 130,000-sf facility will be sited on the engineering portion of the campus.

Northwestern University has selected lead architect Davis Brody Bond to design its new 72,000-gsf Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center on the Evanston campus. The project team also includes engineers BR+A of New York and Chris P. Stefanos & Associates of Oak Lawn, Ill., with Tishman Construction Corp. as pre-construction contractor. The $30-million project is slated for completion in spring of 2003.

Magellan Pharmaceutical Development, recently acquired by Cardinal Laboratories, will increase its Morrisville operations from 210,000 sf to approximately 360,000 sf. The $15- to $20-million expansion will occur over the next two to three years. Magellan will also utilize a 75,000-sf biotechnology plant purchased by Cardinal in north Raleigh to expand its Triangle services. Cardinal is also constructing an $80-million clinical manufacturing plant in Somerset, N.J. which will employ up to 300 workers.

Digital Optics Corp., maker of integrated micro-optical systems, recently occupied a 100,000-sf facility in Charlotte's University Research Park. Manufacturing operations will utilize 67,000 sf, with office space in the remaining 37,000 sf.

The University of Missouri Columbia is building a new 124,000-nsf Life Sciences Center (LSC). Construction began in December of 2001 on the $60-million project which will include a DNA research facility, five teaching/computer labs, a 250-seat auditorium, 50 research labs, technologically advanced classrooms, a greenhouse, and multipurpose equipment rooms. The facility will provide flexible space to maximize interactions and foster interdisciplinary team research.