Animal Research

Louisiana State University broke ground on the $20 million Animal and Food Sciences Laboratory Building in December of 2011 in Baton Rouge. Designed to promote interaction and interdisciplinary collaboration, the two-story, 48,000-sf building will house laboratories and offices for the departments of Veterinary Science, Food Science, and Animal Sciences. Construction will begin in January of 2012 with completion expected by summer of 2013.

Colorado State University will begin construction in June of 2012 on a $19.5 million renovation of the Animal Sciences Building in Fort Collins. Plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and telecommunications systems will be replaced in the 41,558-sf building, which will house renovated teaching labs and classrooms.

InVivo Therapeutics has entered into a multi-year lease for 21,000 sf at One Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass. The new facility will serve as the company's fully integrated global corporate headquarters. Bringing all of InVivo's business units under one roof, the facility will house corporate offices, chemistry and biology labs, s surgeon training suite, a rodent vivarium, and a cGMP cleanroom. Occupancy is expected in early 2012. 

Virginia Tech opened the $105 million Infectious Disease Research Facility at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg in November of 2011. Construction began on the 16,000-sf BSL-2  facility in August of 2010. Also under construction is the $14.1 million, 33,000-sf Veterinary Medicine Instructional Addition. Work began on the building in July of 2011 and occupancy is expected in August of 2012. The facility will house faculty offices, teaching labs, and flexible instructional space.

The Institute for Animal Health will invest $126 million to build additional biocontainment laboratories in Pirbright in the United Kingdom. The project will support research in infectious diseases affecting poultry and livestock and will promote the development of diagnostic tools and vaccines. Occupancy is expected in 2016. The project represents a second phase of development at the Pirbright campus in addition to a $157 million biocontainment lab currently under construction and slated for occupancy in early 2014.

Pfizer Animal Health opened the $7 million Equine Research Center in November of 2011 in Richland, Mich. The facility provides 24,000 sf of laboratory space for the research and development of equine vaccines and therapeutics. The center will house multidisciplinary research teams and includes paddocks and pastures for equine housing. 

The University of California, Berkeley dedicated the $267 million Li Ka Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences in October of 2011. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, the 200,000-gsf, five-story facility provides 30 flexible research labs, a teaching lab, lecture halls, seminar rooms, a brain imaging center, and biocontainment space. An animal research laboratory and vivarium is located on the basement level. The center houses the Henry H. Wheeler Jr.

Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System is planning to build a $127 million basic science research center and vivarium in Palo Alto, Calif. Construction will begin in 2013 and reach completion within two years. The 143,000-sf facility will house flexible, open wet labs to promote researcher interaction and collaboration. A 31,500-sf animal research vivarium will be located in the basement. 

The Institute of Animal Health celebrated the topping out of its £100 million biocontainment laboratory in Pirbright, U.K. Housing over 150 investigators and support staff, the facility will support research on emerging, existing, and vector-borne infectious diseases in animal and human populations. The general contractor for the project is Shepherd Construction. Occupancy is expected in 2014.

The Jackson Laboratory is planning to build a $1.1 billion animal research facility on the University of Connecticut Health Center's Farmington campus. The first phase of the project will include a 173,000-sf facility housing laboratory and vivarium space. The public-private partnership will support biomedical research for the creation of personalized medicine solutions. Construction will begin in early 2013 with completion expected in late 2014. The completed Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine will eventually total 250,000 sf.

Getinge USA and Detach AB have formed a global strategic partnership to provide a complete solution for cage processing in biomedical research facilities. Combining Detach AB's technology with Getinge's cleaning and decontamination processes, the robotic system will perform safe and efficient cleaning, decontamination, bedding handling, and bottle processing. The cage management platform will reduce energy consumption and minimize allergen exposure for laboratory staff. 

The University of Saskatchewan opened the $140 million International Vaccine Center (InterVac) in Saskatoon in September of 2011. Designed by Smith Carter of Winnipeg, the 145,000-sf facility houses BSL-3 containment laboratories for infectious disease and vaccine research. Commissioning is expected to reach completion within five months and occupancy is expected in spring of 2012. InterVac will support research on pathogens including avian flu, SARS, West Nile virus, bovine tuberculosis, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

The Wistar Institute broke ground in September of 2011 on a $100 million biomedical research tower in Philadelphia. The seven-story, 89,700-sf facility will house five floors of research labs as well as meeting space and an auditorium. Designed by Ballinger, the project includes demolition of less than one third of Wistar’s existing 103,750-sf cancer research building and vivarium. 

The University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College is building an animal cancer research and treatment facility. The $15 million project will house a linear accelerator for advanced radiation therapy. The 12,000-sf center will include an animal hospital with surgical suites as well as research laboratories. Occupancy is expected in late fall of 2011. 

Indiana University will break ground in January of 2012 on a $20 million science and engineering facility in Indianapolis. Supporting programs in biomedical engineering, psychobiology, and renewable energy research, the addition will house a vivarium and several laboratories. General contractor Keystone Construction will use BIM technology in the delivery of the project. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.