Research and Development

The University of Kentucky will begin construction in late summer of 2010 on a 36,000-sf energy research facility in Lexington. Located in the Spindletop Research Park, the project represents an expansion of the nearby Center for Applied Energy Research. The $15.8 million project was awarded $11.8 million in stimulus funding in January of 2010 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The facility will support research into biofuels, biomass, wind, and solar energy.

The University of Maryland will begin construction in 2010 on the $15.5 million Laboratory for Advanced Quantum Science (LAQS) in College Park. Part of the planned Physical Sciences Complex, the underground facility will feature laboratories with advanced building systems to minimize noise, vibration, humidity, and temperature fluctuations.

The University of Kansas School of Engineering will break ground in 2010 on the $18.8 million Measurement, Materials and Sustainable Environment Center in Lawrence. Supported by $12.3 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the 36,690-sf facility will house laboratory and support space for research in biofuels, environmental science, and energy technologies. Completion is slated for spring of 2012. The facility will feature a green roof, solar shades, and reflected sunlight for illumination.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded over $123 million in Recovery Act funding in January of 2009 to support the creation of 12 new research laboratories. The grants include:

Nova Southeastern University will break ground in spring of 2010 on the 86,000-sf Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Science Research Facility. Supported by $15 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the $30 million center will be operated by NSU's National Coral Reef Institute and will support research on coral genetics, deep sea reefs, and reef mapping. The facility will be located at NSU’s Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach, Fla. The facility will house offices, laboratories, training facilities, and fieldwork staging space.

Purdue University will begin construction in February of 2010 on the $23.5 million Center for High Performance Buildings in West Lafayette, Ind. Supported by $11.75 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awarded by NIST, the new 68,000-sf facility represents an upgrade and expansion of the university’s Herrick Laboratories. Completion is expected in December of 2012.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital will break ground in early 2010 on its third research facility in Columbus, Ohio. Part of an $840 million expansion plan, the $93 million Research III building will be constructed adjacent to the existing Wexner Institute for Pediatric Research and Research II. The six-story, 225,000-sf facility is slated for completion in 2012. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

The Commonwealth Medical College is building the 185,000-sf Medical Sciences Building in Scranton, Pa. Ground was broken on the project in August of 2008 with completion expected in 2011. Designed by HOK in partnership with Highland Associates, the facility will support medical education for over 500 students and will accommodate 175 full-time faculty members. The Medical Sciences Building is comprised of a west research wing and an east instructional wing linked by a courtyard.

The University of Oklahoma is constructing the $75 million Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center in Norman. Slated for completion in summer of 2010, the 160,000-sf building is located on the south campus and will provide research labs, graduate study facilities, and support for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Upstate Medical University will begin construction in mid-2010 on a $72 million expansion of the Institute for Human Performance in Syracuse, N.Y. Doubling existing research space, the 100,000-sf addition will house biomedical research labs, offices, and a vivarium. The facility will support interdisciplinary research on nervous system disorders such as addiction, Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia. Completion is expected in 2013.

Western Digital Corp. is engaged in a 60,000-sf expansion of its facilities in Fremont, Calif. Housing a cleanroom, R&D laboratories, and a mechanical plant, the project will add a second story to the existing structure. Marelich Mechanical, a subsidiary of Emcor Group, will utilize BIM (Building Information Modeling) to plan and install the building systems for the project.

The University of Wisconsin will begin construction in mid-2010 on the $75.7 million Wisconsin Energy Institute in Madison. Designed by HOK and Potter Lawson, the 200,000-sf facility will support renewable energy research. M.A. Mortenson Co. is the general contractor for the project.

Ruhr University will begin construction in 2010 on the 65,000-sf European Protein Research Institute in Bochum, Germany. Supported by $53 million in funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the facility will support research on protein biomarkers for cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. Completion is expected in 2013. The building will house approximately 150 researchers and staff.

Michigan State University will begin construction in May of 2010 on the $43.2 million Plant Science Expansion in Lansing. The 90,000-sf, four-story structure will house open laboratories, plant growth chambers, and computational research space. Completion is expected in late 2011.

The National Institutes of Health has selected Perkins & Will to design the second phase of the Porter Neuroscience Research Center in Bethesda, Md. The construction cost is estimated at $150 million. Slated for completion in the third quarter of 2013, the project will provide generic laboratories, offices, animal holding facilities, and conference rooms. The completed Porter Neuroscience Research Center will encompass 600,000 sf. LEED Platinum sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.