Research and Development

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology opened the General Motors of Canada Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) in Oshawa in June of 2011. The 175,453-sf facility features a five-story climatic wind tunnel to test products in extreme weather conditions, a solar array to mimic the impact of the sun's radiation, and a four-poster shaker to emulate road conditions. The ACE also includes a five-story integrated research and training facility. The project was supported by $67.3 million in provincial funding.

The National Institutes of Health is planning to create the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) will be dissolved, with $553.2 million in annual NCCR funding to be absorbed by NCATS. This includes funding for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards, Clinical Research Resources, Biotechnology Research Resources, and Research Management and Support. Under the currently proposed FY 2012 budget, NCATS will receive a total of $721.6 million.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission opened the National Product Testing and Evaluation Center in June of 2011. Located in Rockville, Md., the renovated 63,000-sf facility provides 32,000 sf of laboratory space, including specialized testing chambers. The center will house 75 scientists and engineers and features an upgraded HVAC system.

The University of Florida broke ground on the $45 million Clinical and Translational Science Building in Gainesville on May 26, 2011. The 120,000-sf project will house the 40,000-sf UF Institute on Aging, the Clinical and Translational Research Institute, conference rooms, training facilities, research laboratories, and clinical space. LEED Platinum sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility. The project team includes Perkins + Will and Skanska USA Building. Completion is expected in January of 2013.

Central Manufacturing Technology Institute began construction in June of 2011 on the $28.6 million Nano Manufacturing Technology Center (NMTC) in Bangalore. Housing advanced instrumentation for micro/nano machining, the center will include the $5.6 million Advanced Nano Technology Laboratory to support research on nanomaterials, nanocharacterisation, nanofabrication, and nanometrology. The underground laboratory will feature precision controls for temperature, humidity, and air quality, as well as isolation technology for vibration mitigation.

The University of Massachusetts Boston officially broke ground on the $152 million Integrated Sciences Complex on June 8, 2011. The 220,000-sf facility will provide undergraduate biology teaching labs, a psychology wing, and an animal facility. The building will also house BSL-2 research labs and a personalized cancer therapy suite. Designed by Goody Clancy of Boston, the secure five-story facility is expected to open in fall of 2013.

Stony Brook University is planning to build a $194 million translational research facility in Stony Brook, N.Y.  The eight-story, 250,000-sf project will house an additional 250 faculty members and 1,500 students. The teaching and research building will support the discovery of advanced cancer treatments and medical imaging technologies.

Argonne National Laboratory broke ground on the $95 million Energy Sciences Building in June of 2011. The facility will support research on advanced batteries, fuels, and photovoltaics. Completion is expected in 2013. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

The University of California, Los Angeles is building the $32 million Global Bio Lab. Supporting research on infectious diseases and pandemic response, the 6,000-sf facility will feature advanced sample processing and storage systems. The BSL-3 laboratory is located in the California NanoSystems Institute and is created in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Global Bio Lab is expected to be fully operational in fall of 2011. 

Virginia Tech will begin construction in summer of 2011 on 26,000 sf of shell space located on the third floor of the Carilion Research Institute in Roanoke. The $15 million project will create a 5,000-cage vivarium, laboratories, and research offices. Completion is expected in September of 2012.

The University of New South Wales is initiating a 107,640-sf expansion of the Wallace Wurth Building in Kensington. The $130 million project includes construction of a new wing and an additional story to provide research, teaching, and administrative space for the School of Medical Sciences. The existing building will also be renovated. The completed 269,100-sf facility will open in March of 2014. The general contractor for the project is Lend Lease.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will invest $37.5 million to expand its satellite production facility in Kamakura, Japan. The project will support maximum integration of production, component assembly, and environmental testing operations with reduced costs and shortened delivery times. The completed 83,000-sf facility is slated for occupancy in March of 2013.

The University of Windsor is building the $112 million Centre for Engineering in Windsor, Ontario. The first phase of construction is nearing completion with the second phase slated for occupancy in fall of 2012. The 300,000-sf Centre for Engineering will house lecture halls, offices, and research laboratories. J.P. Thompson is the project manager and the construction manager is PCR Contractors.

Southwestern University is planning to construct a new science center in Georgetown, Texas. The $24 million facility will feature advanced classrooms and research labs. The project includes renovation of the existing Fondren-Jones Science Building and construction of a 37,000-sf addition. The completed 100,000-sf facility will open in 2015. 

Raytheon will open the 27,000-sf Public Safety Regional Technology Center in Downey, Calif., in September of 2011. Raytheon has invested $2 million in renovating the facility, which will support the creation of advanced communication technologies for public safety agencies. The building will house research and testing laboratories, training areas, and space for logistics, maintenance, and systems support.