Industry News

Abgenix Inc. is expanding with a new $50 million, 200,000-sf complex at Ardenwood Corporate Park in Fremont. The interior of an existing 100,000-sf shell building will be customized and a new 100,000-sf structure will be built on adjacent property. Abgenix will use its existing nearby facility for R&D, shifting the corporate headquarters, offices, and labs to the new complex. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2000, with completion in approximately 14 months. The general contractor is Sobrato Development Cos. of Cupertino, Calif.

EMC Corp. has plans for a $200 million, 1,166,000 gsf complex at a 144-acre site in northeastern Bellingham. A total of 486,000 sf of R&D space will be housed in three 162,000-sf two-story buildings. A 100,000-sf accessory building will also be constructed that may be used for training, day care, wastewater treatment, and/or an athletic center. Space to accommodate 3,500 vehicles is also planned. Construction is scheduled for completion in November 2003.

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering broke ground in May 2000 for its new high-tech campus on a 70-acre site in Needham. Phase one construction, slated for completion in fall 2001, will include a classroom/laboratory building, a student center, administrative building, and residence hall. Phase two will encompass four additional structures--a lab building and three residence halls--to be completed at a later date.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dedicated its new $2.3 million, 354-seat conference center in May 2000. The 12,518-sf facility--built in what was an abandoned theater--will be the new site for NTSB proceedings and hearings on civil aviation accidents. Special features include a stage with movable panels; two 9' x 12' dual rear projection screens capable of displaying traditional visuals, videotapes, DVDs, and live video; a six-zone distributed sound system accommodating 34 microphone inputs; and easy access for the media.

American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM) is planning to expand its headquarters on Independence Mall in Center City Philadelphia. ACP-ASIM will build a new 150,000-sf, $37 million headquarters adjacent to its existing facility to accommodate its expanding programs and staff. Philadelphia-based Ballinger, architects and engineers, will link the new nine-story structure to the existing building at every floor through a glass-enclosed connector.