Research and Development

The design of UCLA's WIN-GEM Building and Engineering VI was recently awarded to BNIM + MRY Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as the laboratory design consultant. The project involves the phased design and construction of a 130,000-gsf engineering complex. The facility will house research laboratories for the School’s Western Institute of Nanoelectronics (WIN) and Green Engineering and Metrology (GEM) programs.

The 440,000-sf Methodist Hospital Research Institute opened in Houston in January of 2011. Located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the 12-story facility is equipped with advanced technology to help research scientists, physicians, and engineers cure diseases through translational research. The project team included design architect Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and executive architect WHR Architects.

Eppendorf Manufacturing has initiated a $25 million expansion of its biomedical production plant in Enfield, Conn. The 130,000-sf addition will support manufacturing of pipettes and pipette tips used in research and medical laboratories. Completion is expected in October of 2011.  Eppendorf Manufacturing is based in Germany.

National Cheng Kung University inaugurated the Y. S. Sun Green Building Research Center in January of 2011 on the Lis-Hsing campus in Tainan, Taiwan. Housing the Magic School of Green Technology, the zero-carbon facility is expected to attain LEED Platinum sustainable design certification and receive the highest rating from Taiwan's Ecology, Energy Saving, and Waste Reduction initiative. The 4,800-sm building includes three levels above ground and one underground floor.

Agensys began construction in January of 2011 on a $95 million biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Santa Monica. Designed by HLW International, the 160,000-sf complex will house research labs, offices, and manufacturing space. Completion is expected in early 2013. The building will enable Agensys to consolidate operations from three existing sites in Santa Monica. Agensys is a subsidiary of Japan-based Astellas Pharma.

Black Hills State University opened its $8 million science building in January of 2011 in Spearfish, S.D. The 26,000-sf facility houses a DNA core facility, the Center for the Conservation of Biological Resources, three research labs, five classrooms, 11 faculty offices, and a conference room. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks selected Davis Constructors and Engineers in January of 2011 to provide design consultation for the $109 million Life Sciences Classroom and Laboratory Facility. The building will house advanced laboratories, offices, classrooms, and an auditorium. Construction will begin in summer of 2011 with completion expected in 2014.

The University of Texas at El Paso is partnering with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to create the $9 million Structural and Printed Emerging-Technologies Center (SPEC). The existing 6,100-sf W.M. Keck Center for 3-D Innovation will be doubled in size to accommodate the new center. The facility will house advanced manufacturing and fabrication equipment for the creation of innovative products and technologies.

Dow AgroSciences broke ground in January of 2011 on a seed R&D complex in Olivia, Minn. Sited on 11 acres, the project includes a seed processing facility, office space, and support buildings. The complex will house 25 full-time employees by 2015.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is planning to construct a second campus in northern California. Supporting research on genomics, life sciences, and physical biosciences, the project will consolidate several of LBNL's existing sites in Oakland, Berkeley, and Walnut Creek. Site selection will occur by June of 2011 with construction commencing in July of 2013. Completion is expected by December of 2015. The default site for the 2 million-sf project is the Richmond Field Station.

Southern Polytechnic State University opened the $30 million Engineering Technology Center in January of 2011 in Marietta, Ga. The three-story, 120,000-sf facility features specialized laboratories for the study of fluid mechanics, materials science, metrology, electromagnetics, computerized manufacturing, and energy. The center also houses classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, and an auditorium. The project was designed by Cooper Carry. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.

Rinker Design Associates (RDA) is partnering with NAL Research Corporation to build a 90,000-sf shared headquarters in the Innovation @ Prince William development in Manassas, Va. Ground will be broken in March of 2011 on the first phase of the project, the $9 million, 45,000-sf Discovery Center I. Completion is expected in February of 2012. The 40,000-sf Discovery Center II will be built as the second phase. Both towers will be three stories tall.

Lohmann Animal Health completed an $8.8 million, 25,000-sf expansion of its poultry vaccine manufacturing facility in Winslow, Maine, in January of 2011. Construction began on the project in 2008. The completed facility includes a 9,000-sf R&D center with laboratories and offices, a bird testing facility, and a biological production plant. Lohmann Animal Health is based in Cuxhaven, Germany.

The Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole was awarded LEED Gold sustainable design certification in January of 2011 for the $25 million renovation of Loeb Laboratory. The 66,000-sf facility features advanced buildings systems and technologies to reduce energy and water consumption. The Loeb Laboratory houses life sciences education, training, and research space. The project was funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

Novartis is planning to build a $36 million vaccine research laboratory in Holly Springs, N.C. The facility will include a manufacturing suite for producing experimental vaccines. The lab will be sited on 167 acres and will house approximately 100 employees.