Research and Development

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.

Construction on the Tri-Service Research Laboratory was completed in San Antonio in September of 2011. Located at Fort Sam Houston, the $70 million, design-build facility will support health and safety research for the Navy, Air Force, and Army. Housing laser research labs and anechoic chambers, the 181,000-sf project will accommodate studies on the biological effects of directed energy devices. The project team includes Jacobs Engineering, Skanska USA Building, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Battelle opened the $200 million Center for Life Sciences in September of 2011 in Jefferson, Ohio. The 220,000-sf facility will support research in public health, environmental services, and commercial healthcare. The project also provides support space for systems including laboratory information management, environmental monitoring, telemetry, and test-article storage. The Center for Life Sciences will house 150 employees.

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 Nebraska–Lincoln is building the Voelte-Keegan Nanoscience Metrology Facility (NMF). The 32,000-sf facility will provide a temperature-stabilized research environment with minimized vibration and electromagnetic fields. The NMF will include a nanofabrication cleanroom, a materials preparation facility, and laboratories for nanofiber characterization, manufacturing metrology, and nanophotonics.

Medicago opened its $32 million Vaccine Research and Production Facility in September of 2011. Located in Research Triangle Park, the 97,000-sf project will support commercial grade production of influenza vaccines using VLP (virus-like particle) plant-based manufacturing technology. The general contractor, KBR Building Group, was awarded a $19 million contract to build the facility in November of 2010. The plant can produce 10 million doses per month and can increase production within three months to respond to an influenza pandemic. 

NanoViricides is expanding in West Haven, Conn., with the acquisition of an 18,000-sf facility. The building will house laboratories and a cGMP pilot plant for production of nanoviricide pharmaceutical candidates for clinical trials. NanoViricides is engaged in creating anti-viral drugs for H1N1, H5N1, seasonal influenza, hepatitis, rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola. 

Analog Devices will construct a $68.3 million research and development facility in Raheen, Ireland. Built adjacent to Analog's existing manufacturing center, the two-story, 140,000-sf facility will house engineering labs, offices, and meeting rooms to accommodate 100 employees. Analog Devices is a semiconductor manufacturer based in Boston.

Bridgewater State University opened the first phase of the newly expanded and renovated Science and Mathematics Center in September of 2011. Designed by Payette, the five-story, 168,000-sf facility will provide space for the departments of biology, chemistry, earth science, geography, physics, math, and computer science. The project team includes R.G.

Memphis Bioworks Foundation is planning to build the $15.2 million Memphis Specialized Laboratory. The 26,000-sf facility will help companies obtain U.S. FDA approval for products, enabling rapid commercialization of research discoveries. The facility was designed by Perkins+Will of Houston and Self+Tucker Architects of Memphis with Flintco as general contractor. The duration of construction is estimated to be 14 months plus two months for facility commissioning.

Lorain County Community College broke ground on the Richard Desich SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems in September of 2011. Located in Elyria, Ohio, the facility will support MEMS (micro electrical mechanical systems) industry partnerships for the development of advanced sensor technologies. The project will house cleanrooms, laboratories, testing suites, and packaging space. Occupancy is expected in spring of 2013.

SUNY Fredonia broke ground on its $60 million Science Center in September of 2011. The 92,000-sf building will house the departments of biology and chemistry/biochemistry, as well as programs in environmental science and education. The facility will feature flexible and informal teaching spaces as well as faculty offices, labs, and classrooms. Occupancy is expected in 2014.

SAIT Polytechnic is building the $400 million Trades and Technology Complex in Calgary, Alberta. The three-building, 740,000-sf project will house advanced equipment and is expected to open in September of 2012.

Brown University completed the Cognitive, Linguistics, and Psychological Sciences Building in September of 2011. The facility was created by a $42 million renovation of the existing Metcalf Chemistry and Research Laboratory. Ground was broken on the project in June of 2010. The facility features modern laboratories, classrooms, faculty offices, an auditorium, and a teaching studio. The building will open for classes in early 2012. 

Data Realty has selected ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.), a specialist in mission critical facilities, to design a 50,000-sf data center/collocation facility in South Bend, Indiana. Located within the newly founded Ignition Technology Park, the greenfield facility will feature a modular layout. The sustainably designed center will utilize free cooling, high efficiency UPS modules, and an advanced electrical system. Completion is expected by August of 2012.