Research and Development

Northeastern University is building the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security in Burlington, Mass. Funded in part by a $12 million donation, the three-story, 70,000-sf facility will house laboratories for the study of information protection, explosive detection, nanotechnology, robotics, and energy harvesting. The sustainably designed project will open in summer of 2011. The facility will house up to 100 researchers.

The University at Buffalo is building the 130,000-sf Barbara and Jack Davis Hall in Buffalo, N.Y. Housing the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the $75 million facility will provide flexible laboratories, classrooms, and seminar rooms for interdisciplinary research and education. The project was designed by Perkins + Will and includes a 5,000-sf cleanroom for nanotechnology fabrication.

The University of Aberystwyth initiated construction on two research facilities in late 2010. The $11.1 million, 2,000-sm Phenomics facility will house laboratories and greenhouses for plant science. The project is the centerpiece of the Institute for International Plant Breeding, a center housing laboratories, an enterprise hub, and accommodation for visiting academics. The second facility is a two-story teaching and research block slated for completion in late 2011. A BREEAM Excellent rating for sustainable design will be sought for both projects.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute dedicated the 275,000-sf Yawkey Center for Cancer Care in Boston in January of 2011. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, the 14-story outpatient facility houses a clinical research center, 104 exam rooms, 139 infusion chairs, and 17 consultation rooms. The center provides integrated treatment and research facilities in an environment with abundant natural light to promote healing. The sustainably designed building features a heat recovery system, automated sunshades, and a green roof.

City University of New York has awarded Skanska USA a $92 million contract to construct two research buildings in Harlem, N.Y. A 473,000-sf facility will house labs, a 100-seat lecture hall, and a cafeteria. The second building will provide 247,000 sf of laboratory space for biology, chemistry, and physics. Construction began in January of 2011 with completion expected in summer of 2014.

Ariens Co. is initiating a $3.8 million renovation of its R&D office in Brillion, Wis. The project will include creation of new product development and testing labs, an employee learning center, and a geothermal heating system. The completed facility will help Ariens to support its Lean management philosophy. Completion is expected in July of 2011. The project was designed by Performa of De Pere, Wis., with Miron Construction as general contractor.

The Center for Advanced Engineering and Research (CAER) is slated for completion in April of 2011. Located in the New London Business and Technology Center, the 30,000-sf facility will provide R&D labs for students and faculty from local universities including Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia. The building will include two towers, one dedicated to wireless technology research and development, and the other housing a model nuclear reactor. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

The Department of Energy has selected Fowler General Construction to build an addition to the Environmental Molecular Science Lab at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. The $4.96 million Q-wing will house microscopy to support research in microbiology, geochemistry, fuel cells, and catalysts. Designed to minimize vibration, noise, and electromagnetic radiation, the facility will feature isolated foundations for each of the eight rooms in the 10,500-sf wing.

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.