Research and Development

The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory broke ground on the $4.5 million Center for Marine Functional Genomic Studies in late October of 2010. Located in Salisbury Cove, Maine, the 10,900-sf facility will provide multidisciplinary research labs, core facilities, a 2,500-sf aquatic animal facility, a zebra fish room, and support space. The sustainably designed building will also house the Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Medicine and Biology and research space for Maine's IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).

Clemson University broke ground on a $98 million wind turbine research facility in November of 2010. Located at the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston, S.C., the project involves renovation of a former Navy warehouse facility to support accelerated testing of advanced drive-train systems for wind turbines. The project is supported by a $45 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and $53 million in matching funds. Occupancy is expected by 2012.

The University of Texas at Austin broke ground on the $120 million Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex and Dell Computer Science Hall in November of 2010. Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, the 140,000-sf facility will include 10 research clusters of integrated laboratory and office space to foster interaction and collaboration. The complex will also house a large atrium, a conference room, computer labs, and study lounges. Completion is expected in December of 2012.

Macquarie University has selected Watpac Construction to build the $75 million Australian Hearing Hub in Sydney. Supporting research on audiology, speech, and language disorders, the six-story 20,000-nsm facility will include an anechoic chamber, a 150-seat lecture hall, a magnetoencephalograph (MEG) suite, conference rooms, classrooms, a library, and a café.

The Department of Defense began building a $27.2 million support facility for the Air Force Research Laboratory and Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in November of 2010. The 105,000-sf information technology complex includes a computer center and office space. The general contractor for the facility is Messer Construction of Dayton.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is building the $156 million New Laboratory Science Building. Ground was broken on the 318,000-gsf research facility in February of 2010 and the north wing of the building is expected to open in fall of 2012. The facility will be connected to the existing Integrated Sciences Building and will include shell space to accommodate future research needs. Designed by Wilson Architects of Boston, the New Laboratory Science Building will provide modern labs arranged in interdisciplinary research clusters.

The Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute broke ground on a $42 million research facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in October of 2010. Located in the Florida Center for Innovation research park in Tradition, Fla., the four-story, 98,000-sf building is expected to reach completion in 2012. The general contractor for the project is Whiting-Turner of Tampa.

Intel will begin construction in early 2011 on a multibillion-dollar research fab in Hillsboro, Ore. The D1X facility will house extensive cleanroom facilities and is expected to open in 2013.

Montgomery College is constructing the $74 million Rockville Science Center in Maryland. Slated for occupancy in fall of 2011, the four-story facility will provide a total of 29 laboratories for biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. The 140,000-sf center features a green roof, a photovoltaic array, and an astronomical observatory. Construction began on the project in 2009.

The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine broke ground on a 30,000-sf facility in Plymouth in October of 2010. Housing wet lab space, offices, and manufacturing suites, the center will support research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of adult stem cell and regenerative medicine therapies. The newly renovated facility will include a 2,600-sf Good Manufacturing Practice/Current Good Tissue Practice laboratory. 

The Health Protection Agency opened the £12 million Influenza Resource Centre (IRC) and UK Stem Cell Bank in October of 2010. Located in Potters Bar in the United Kingdom, the facility will provide vaccine research and development laboratories for the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control as well as a stem cell repository. The project will support pandemic response and was developed in partnership with the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council.

The University of Oregon began building the $65 million Lewis Integrative Science Building in Eugene in October of 2010. The five-story, 100,000-sf building will provide interdisciplinary research and teaching facilities including classrooms, 30,000 sf of laboratory space for life and materials sciences, and 46 faculty offices. Designed by THA Architecture and HDR to foster interaction and collaboration, the project will include shared analysis facilities, advanced imaging equipment, and conference rooms.

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake opened the $64 million Dr. William B. McLean Laboratory in October of 2010 in San Bernardino County, Calif. The 177,000-sf technology center houses 30 laboratories, including 50,000 sf of secured engineering labs, and 4,800 sf of high bay space. The general contractor for the project was Barnhart Construction of San Diego with Naval Facilities Engineering Command as construction manager. LEED gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.

BASF broke ground in October of 2010 on a $50 million manufacturing plant in Elyria, Ohio. The facility will produce advanced cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The plant is expected to be fully operational in 2012. The project is supported by $24.6 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Institute for Business & Home Safety celebrated the opening of the $27 million Insurance Center for Building Safety Research in October of 2010. Located in Chester, S.C., the multi-hazard research complex enables model structures to be tested in conditions resembling natural catastrophes to identify effective methods of minimizing risk and loss to homes and businesses. Designed by Odell Associates of Charlotte, N.C., the facility includes a 21,000-sf test chamber, a secondary research building, and a conference center.