Industry News

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded over $123 million in Recovery Act funding in January of 2009 to support the creation of 12 new research laboratories. The grants include:

Nova Southeastern University will break ground in spring of 2010 on the 86,000-sf Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Science Research Facility. Supported by $15 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the $30 million center will be operated by NSU's National Coral Reef Institute and will support research on coral genetics, deep sea reefs, and reef mapping. The facility will be located at NSU’s Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach, Fla. The facility will house offices, laboratories, training facilities, and fieldwork staging space.

Purdue University will begin construction in February of 2010 on the $23.5 million Center for High Performance Buildings in West Lafayette, Ind. Supported by $11.75 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awarded by NIST, the new 68,000-sf facility represents an upgrade and expansion of the university’s Herrick Laboratories. Completion is expected in December of 2012.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital will break ground in early 2010 on its third research facility in Columbus, Ohio. Part of an $840 million expansion plan, the $93 million Research III building will be constructed adjacent to the existing Wexner Institute for Pediatric Research and Research II. The six-story, 225,000-sf facility is slated for completion in 2012. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

Athens State University will complete its renovation of Waters Hall in Athens, Ala., in early 2010. The project will expand the existing 25,000-sf facility to approximately 40,000 sf. The completed science building will provide 12 laboratories, eight instructional spaces, and 16 faculty offices.