Industry News

Johns Hopkins University recently dedicated the new 50,000-gsf Academic and Research Building for its Montgomery County campus at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center in Rockville. The three-story structure features state-of-the-art research and education facilities: four computer labs; 22 "smart" classrooms configured for video conferencing, multimedia presentations, and high-speed transmission of large databases; a coffee house; a bookstore; and student meeting spaces.

Kutztown University has plans to renovate and expand its science teaching facilities. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services has contracted with STV Architects to design the $14 million Kutztown University Science Center. The Boehm and Grim Science Buildings will undergo renovation and a 70,000-sf addition to the Boehm building will be constructed. The center will accommodate and promote new technologies and will encompass the biology, chemistry, marine science, physics, geography, geology, physical science, and astronomy departments.

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a defense contractor, has plans to consolidate its operations in 222,159 sf at a build-to-suit in Alexandria's Mark Center. IDA currentlly occupies two buildings at the site. The new 260,000-sf building, slated for completion in February 2002, was designed by Davis Carter Scott and is being developed by Mark Winkler Co.

Asyst Technologies has plans for a build-to-suit $90 million, 350,000-sf multiple-building headquarters at a 27-acre site in Fremont. Asyst will consolidate its 1000 employees, now housed in six different offices, at the Warm Springs Corporate Center, where the first phase of construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2000. The first building is slated for completion in fall 2001. One 180,000-sf building will accommodate manufacturing. The site provides for future expansion of up to 600,000 sf of space. Trumark Commercial LLC is the developer.

Fowler & Flanagan, of Larkspur, Calif., is transforming two vacant warehouses in Northeast D.C. into a technology center. The 120,000-sf warehouse site has what telecom companies are looking for: high ceilings, heavy floor load capability, open floor plan, and proximity to fiber-optic lines. Fowler & Flanagan have built similar facilities in Los Angeles, Phoenix, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Kansas City, Mo. The project manager is Total Site Solution.