Industry News

The Burlington County Institute of Technology (BCIT) is planning a $25-million, 136,600-sf expansion and renovation of its Westhampton Campus. Slated for completion in January of 2004, the project is being designed by Cape May Courthouse, N.J.-based architect the Design Collaborative. Additions totalling 72,900-sf will include a new gym and three classrooms. A total of 63,400 sf will be renovated, upgrading existing classrooms, athletic fields, the cafeteria, and other school areas, as well as several office and classroom relocations.

BioMerjeux, a France-based medical-testing products company, opened its new Durham customer service and call center at Teer Technical Park in June.

Technology High School at McKinley's 300,000-sf, $40-million renovation will be delivered by general contractor James G. Davis Construction of Rockville with joint venture partner HRGM. The public/private partnership on the project resulted in $20 million in city-allocated funds with private fund-raising to match, resulting in office space for technology companies also being located on the campus.

Appalachian State University has awarded the Charlotte office of Bovis Lend Lease the $40-million contract to build its new 210,000-sf central library complex in Boone. Consisting of one level below ground and five levels above, the facility will house electronic and traditional information resources and over 800,000 volumes. Included in the project is construction of a 300-car parking garage, renovation of the existing library, and demolition of Whitener Hall.

Kaiser Permanente has opted to relocate its Northern California optical lab from Berkeley to Richmond instead of consolidating with a Southern California Kaiser lab. The 39,000-sf Richmond facility will house administration and manufacturing operations and will employ 140.