Industry News

The University of California, Merced,  will occupy a newly-completed 68,000, five-story office building "University Square" in Bakersfield. The Kern County Superintendent of Schools is also a tenant. Classrooms occupy the first two floors, with the upper floors housing support offices. An adjacent parking structure is also part of the project designed by Ware Malcomb of Irvine, Calif. The developer is The Allen Group. The general contractor was S.C. Anderson Inc. of Bakersfield.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is planning several new academic facilities. The Ray and Maria Stata Center for Computer Information and Intelligence Sciences will unite computer science and electrical engineering programs in a 447,000-sf building scheduled for completion in 2004. The Dreyfus Building, housing the chemistry department, will be gutted and renovated by 2003. Student housing for about 1,000 students will be provided in two new dorms. The 130,000-sf Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center is scheduled to open in 2002.

Schering-Plough plans to renovate and expand its mixed-use pilot plant and lab buildings at its campus in Union, consolidating several research groups currently spread throughout the existing 35,000-sf building. Renovations will include a new chiller plant, new entrance and loading dock, new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and control systems throughout the building. Renovation of exterior cladding to permit more natural light in labs and support spaces, and replacement of existing floors with concrete slabs will also be part of the project.

 Elan Corp., based in Dublin, Ireland, may consolidate New Jersey and San Francisco units of its pharmaceuticals division at a new North American headquarters in Sorrento Valley, where its recently-acquired Dura Pharmaceuticals is located. Plans would include expanding research space at the existing facility and possibly constructing an additional structure nearby. Elan focuses on drug development for pain management, cancer, and neurological disorders.

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The Food and Drug Administration dedicated its new 350,000-gsf Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, which adjoins the College Park Metro station, on October 1. The five-story structure, designed by Kallman, McKinnell & Wood, accommodates state-of-the-art chemistry and life sciences labs, office space, support facilities, an auditorium, a library, three training rooms, and conference rooms on each floor. Special features include an atrium, fitness center, health center, automated teller machine, and a secure parking lot.