Research and Development

The Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC) broke ground in December of 2015 on a CAD$12 million biomedical laboratory in Sudbury, Ontario. The project involves the conversion of an existing building into a 14,000-sf research facility to support the discovery and development of innovative therapies for a variety of diseases and conditions, with a special focus on personalized medicine. Completion is expected in 2017.

The University of Utah Medical Center is building a 130,000-sf hospital in Farmington. Supporting research, teaching, and patient care, the facility will house the Huntsman Cancer Institute as well as providing an urgent care center, surgical suites for inpatient and outpatient procedures, clinical space for primary care and medical specialties, radiology, a diagnostic laboratory, and a pharmacy. General contractor Layton Construction began work on the project in June of 2015 and completion is expected in August of 2016.

The University of Georgia broke ground in December of 2015 on $25 million Center for Molecular Medicine in Athens. Designed by Flad Architects, the 45,000-sf project will provide biomedical research laboratories, a 7,500-sf vivarium, a microscopy suite, a cell culture lab, environmental rooms, faculty offices, and a conference room.

Mary Kay will begin construction in July of 2016 on its global research, development, and manufacturing campus in Lewisville, Texas. Featuring advanced production technologies for cosmetics, the $100 million facility will accommodate 600 employees, including both researchers and manufacturing staff. Completion is expected in early 2018.

The University of Maine dedicated the $13.8 million Harold Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory in Orono in November of 2015. Supporting the prototyping and testing of coastal, offshore, and underwater structures such as turbines, platforms, and ships, the project features a wave pool with a rotating wind machine capable of replicating hurricane conditions. The facility is located in the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, where a research and development lab for the study of thermoplastic materials is also being constructed.

Sacramento State University is planning to build the $91 million Science II facility in Sacramento, Calif. Providing advanced teaching labs and classrooms for programs in biology and chemistry, the design-build project will include faculty and student research space as well as areas for informal collaboration. Groundbreaking is expected in spring of 2017. The existing home of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Sequoia Hall, will also be renovated to provide updated laboratories.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is building a new research facility in Hopkinton. Accommodating 70 employees, the 49,000-sf building will provide a sophisticated laboratory for construction materials testing as well as offices and a spacious conference room. Construction began on the $28.5 million project in summer of 2015 and completion is expected in August of 2016.

The Indian Council for Medical Research is planning to build the $51 million National Resource Facility for Bio-medical Research in Hyderabad. Located on 102 acres in Genome Valley, the world-class vivarium will accommodate the breeding and housing of animals as well as providing a training center for research personnel. The facility will enable the creation, development, and supply of a range of laboratory animals and related resources in support of the scientific efforts of medical colleges, universities, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies.

The University of Washington is planning to build the Nanoengineering & Sciences Building in Seattle. Designed by ZGF, the 78,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will provide approximately 43,000 ASF of research space for the departments of bioengineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and materials sciences.

The Royal Centre for Disease Control was dedicated in November of 2015 in Thimbu, Bhutan. The $4.9 million public health laboratory features a BSL-3 research facility built in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization. The secure three-story building will support the detection, study, and prevention of infectious diseases including tuberculosis, HIV, and water-borne pathogens.

Swarthmore College will begin construction in spring of 2017 on the $120 million Biology, Engineering, and Psychology Building (BEP) in Swarthmore, Pa. The facility will be developed according to the College’s Environmental Sustainability Framework, a standard equivalent to LEED Platinum, with some elements exceeding LEED Platinum criteria. The project will utilize sophisticated energy modeling technologies to optimize post-occupancy performance and will include an extensive geothermal system. Completion is expected in August of 2020.

National Taiwan University Hospital is building a 500-bed comprehensive cancer center in Taipei. Providing 15 floors above ground and four below, the 1.3 million-sf hospital will house surgical suites, clinical offices, inpatient rooms, a preventative medicine center, and biomedical and stem cell research labs. Designed by HKS with J.J. Pan and Partners as architect of record, the facility will offer proton therapy, cell therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Occupancy is expected in 2018.

San Diego State University broke ground on the $90 million Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex in November of 2015. Designed by AC Martin to promote interaction and collaboration, the five-story, 85,000-sf facility will provide 11,500 sf of instructional space, 17 multidisciplinary labs with advanced instrumentation, and an entrepreneurship innovation center.

The Department of Energy opened the $143 million Wang Hall at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in November of 2015. The 149,000-sf facility will house the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) and the Computational Research Division as well as providing a center of operations for the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet).

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will begin construction in January of 2016 on the $28 million Advanced Aerodynamics Laboratory and Wind Tunnel in Daytona Beach, Fla. Located at the school's research park, the 50,000-sf project will support collaborative R&D with industry partners in areas including aviation, engineering, unmanned systems, and advanced materials.