Research and Development

The University of California-Davis opened a $62-million stem cell research facility in March of 2010 on its medical center campus in Sacramento. Construction of the 90,000-sf facility was supported by $20 million in funding from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The project included renovation and new construction to create research laboratories and GMP manufacturing space. A total of 54,000 sf is now occupied, with the remainder as shell space for future expansion.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) opened a new competition for grants in March of 2010 for the construction of new or expanded scientific research facilities for measurement science, oceanography, atmospheric research, or telecommunications. A total of $50 million is available for the cost-sharing grants and it is expected that three to five projects will be awarded grants of $10 to $15 million each.

The University of Utah is planning to renovate the George Thomas Building in Salt Lake City to house the Center for Cell and Genome Science. Construction will begin on the $75 million project in 2012. The completed facility will be named the Gary L. and Ann S. Crocker Science Center and will provide classrooms, laboratories, and administrative offices for the College of Science.

Rutgers University is building the $47 million Center for Integrative Proteomics Technologies on its Busch campus in Piscataway, N.J. Construction began on the 70,000-sf facility in November of 2009 with completion expected in October of 2011. The four-story protein research facility will bring together the BioMaPS Institute for Quantitative Biology, the Protein Data Bank, and branches of the National Institutes of Health’s Protein Structure Initiative structural genomics project.

West Virginia University was awarded $14.5 million in stimulus funding in March of 2010 to build a biomedical research facility in Morgantown. Located adjacent to the existing Health Sciences Center, the 22,000-sf project will include modern animal housing space and biosafety laboratories.

Albany Medical Center is planning to expand research laboratories at its medical college in Albany, N.Y. Supported by $9.1 million in stimulus funding from the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Research Resources and $910,000 from the New York State Innovation Economy Matching Grant Program, the project includes the addition of two floors of research labs (totaling 20,272 nsf) to a three-story building currently under construction.

Monsanto broke ground in March of 2010 on a $2.4 million corn breeding station in Flora, Miss. The 26,000-sf facility is located in the Flora Industrial Park and will support research on corn hybrids. The project team includes developer Southeast Industrial Properties and general contractor Peoples Construction Corp.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is constructing an 186,000-sf research tower in Oklahoma City. Construction began on the facility in 2009 with completion expected by January of 2011. The $125 million tower will house 34 laboratories and clinical space for researchers studying autoimmune diseases. The National Institutes of Health awarded OMRF $7.03 million in March of 2010 for the construction of three floors totaling 8,200 sf, including a 3,400-sf cryostorage facility.

Hitachi’s elevator research tower is slated for completion in April of 2010. Standing 700 feet tall, the building will enable Hitachi to test elevators capable of traveling up to 40 miles per hour. Located in Hitachinaka City in Japan, the research facility will support engineering and development of high-speed passenger and cargo elevators.

The University of Michigan Health System opened the $132 million Brehm Tower in Ann Arbor in March of 2010. Part of the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center Complex, the 230,000-sf facility houses seven eye care clinics, surgical suites, and laboratories for ophthalmology and diabetes research. The eight-story facility was designed by TSA of Cambridge, Mass., and features an open lab layout and abundant natural lighting.

The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah began construction in March of 2010 on the Centre for Advanced Materials (RAK-CAM). The research facility will provide over 10,000 sm of laboratory and office space and will house electron microscopes, x-ray diffractometers, and optical spectrometers. RAK-CAM will support research on solar energy, environmental catalysis, advanced ceramic materials, and renewable energy. Completion is slated for early 2011.

Ground was broken in March of 2010 on the $200 million South Australian Health and Medical Research Facility in Adelaide. Designed by Woods Bagot with RFD (Research Facilities Design) as laboratory design consultant, the 280,000-gsf translational research facility will include 135,000 nsf of laboratory space, a molecular imaging therapy unit, a cyclotron, an imaging suite, and an animal facility.

Clemson University broke ground in March of 2010 on an advanced materials innovation center in Clemson, S.C. Created in partnership with the South Carolina Research Authority, the 43,000-sf project will provide Clemson with 25,000 sf of business incubator space. The architect of record for the facility is Goodwyn Mills and Cawood with Harper Corporation of Greenville as design/build contractor. The project will house 18,000 sf of secure research laboratories as well as collaboration space.

Arizona State University will break ground in March of 2010 on the $160 million Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV. Located in Tempe, the 293,000-sf facility will house the School of Earth and Space Exploration, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The building will provide over 160 laboratories, 60 faculty offices, and a 250-seat auditorium. Occupancy is slated for fall of 2012. The project team includes HDR Architecture and Steven Ehrlich Architects.

The University of North Carolina broke ground in February of 2010 on the $76 million Energy Production and Infrastructure Center in Charlotte. Designed by Narmour Wright Creech Architects, the 200,000-sf collaborative teaching and research facility will house the departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Electrical Engineering. EPIC will support research in energy production and infrastructure development with advanced laboratories, classrooms, and offices. Completion is expected in November of 2011.