Industry News

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals is planning a new 16-researcher R&D lab for pharmaceutical synthesis in Richmond's Virginia Biotechnology Research Park. Over the next five years, Boehringer plans to invest $2.5 million in the facility. Based in Germany, Boehringer's U.S. headquarters are in Connecticut.

The University of California-Davis, the world leader in wine science, will be spending $25 million of a $35 million grant to build the new Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. Replacing buildings 50 years old, the institute will house classrooms, food processing and winery buildings. The remaining $10 million will fund a theater complex already under construction, to be named the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. The center is slated for completion in October 2002.

Abgenix Inc. has awarded a biotech manufacturing plant design contract to Clark Richardson & Biskup Consulting Engineers Inc., working with Dowler-Gruman Architects on the project team. An existing shell building will house a 100,000-sf fit-out.  

Host Marriott has contracted architect OP-X of Washington to design its newly leased 67,000-sf office at Two Democracy Center in Bethesda. Host, a hotel real estate investment trust, plans to relocate its 250 employees in August 2002.

The University of the Incarnate Word is expanding with a new building providing student housing, conference facilities, a bookstore and a parking garage. The first phase of the 150,000-sf facility is being funded by a $9 million bond issue and is currently under contract.