Industry News

The Paul D. Coverdell Building at the University of Georgia will house the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, which will focus on public health, molecular medicine, and infectious disease and immunity. This new research institute will connect UGA researchers with similar interests as well as generating biomedical research funding. As an educational and administrative structure, the Institute will develop interdisciplinary graduate programs in biomedical and health sciences, strengthen existing programs, and expand into new research areas.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.'s credit card division is building a three-story, 152,000-sf call center in the Westover Hills on the north side of San Antonio. $24.9 million was expended on land purchase and construction costs for the new facility, which will house up to 400 additional employees.  Construction on the project began in December and is slated for completion in January 2002.

McDonald's is making downtown Bethesda the site of its regional corporate operations. Relocating 150 to 170 employees from Fairfax, Baltimore, and Herndon offices, the regional headquarters will also provide meeting and training space for more than 80 managers and franchisees.

Gaithersburg biotech firm TherImmune hosted the grand opening of a new 30,000-sf toxicology research lab on May 3. The development is an expansion of the current facility where TherImmune provides biotech firms with analytical, toxicology, and consulting services.

Endicott College is planning a $15 million capital campaign to fund several campus improvement projects. Included are an $8 million, 53,000-sf, 230-bed dormitory and a 20,000-sf library addition housing 65,000 books and a new computer technology center.