Research and Development

The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) officially broke ground on its disaster safety research center in September of 2009. Located in Chester County, S.C., the laboratory will enable researchers to subject structures such as homes, light commercial construction, and agricultural buildings to a variety of hazards, including realistic Category 3 hurricanes, wind-blown fire, and hailstorms. The $40 million multi-peril research facility is funded entirely by property insurance companies, reinsurers, and brokers.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst dedicated the $114.5 million Integrated Sciences Building in September of 2009. The 157,000-sf facility houses 85,000-sf of laboratory and classroom space, a 300-seat auditorium, interaction areas, and advanced imaging suites. The sustainably-designed project promotes interdisciplinary teaching and research by integrating the life, chemical, and physical sciences. Construction of the four-story facility was completed in January of 2009.

The University of Akron broke ground on the $13.2 million National Polymer Innovation Center in September of 2009 in Akron, Ohio. The 42,750-sf facility will house ten technology-rich laboratories and high bay space for the development of advanced materials. The National Polymer Innovation Center will enable faculty, students, and industry partners to engage in biomaterials synthesis, biosensors and biodevices design, and photovoltaic and membrane fabrication. Completion is expected in June of 2010.

The University of California, San Diego broke ground on two laboratory facilities at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla in September of 2009. Supported by over $100 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the 120,000-sf National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Southwest Fisheries Science Center is expected to reach completion in 2011. Additionally, construction will begin in early 2011 on a $26 million research facility for marine ecosystem forecasting.

The University of Georgia dedicated the $44 million Pharmacy South facility in Athens in September of 2009. The 93,288-sf building represents an expansion of the College of Pharmacy and houses large teaching auditoriums, technology-rich classrooms, two research labs, a student learning center, sterile products rooms, two pharmacies, and a conference room. Ground was broken on the project in November of 2007. The facility attained LEED Silver certification for sustainable design.

The University of British Columbia is planning to construct a $133.3 million pharmaceutical sciences building in Vancouver, Canada. The 18,382-sm facility will house classrooms, research laboratories, and the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD). LEED Gold certification for sustainable design will be sought for the project. Occupancy is slated for 2010.

Bristol University opened the £11 million Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information in the United Kingdom in September of 2009. Featuring laboratories with extremely low vibration, acoustic noise, and air movement, the four-story project began construction in October of 2006. The project team included designer Capita Architecture, contractor Willmott Dixon, and project manager Capita Symonds.

Aushon BioSystems opened its renovated headquarters and laboratory facility in Billerica, Mass., in September of 2009. Housing an expanded laboratory and manufacturing center with increased automation for improved performance, the facility will support Aushon's multiplex immunoassay manufacturing operations as well as testing and development services. The CLIA-certified laboratories include cleanrooms, cold rooms, and a BSL-2 facility.

The University of Manchester will begin construction in May of 2010 on the £30 million School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science. Housing teaching laboratories and research facilities for postgraduates and undergraduates, the project will be built in two phases. The first phase of construction is expected to reach completion in summer of 2011.

Northwest Missouri State University opened its new 46,000-sf science building in Maryville, Mo., in September of 2009. The $24 million Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship houses $3 million in advanced laboratory instrumentation. Comprised of two wings, the mixed-use facility accommodates instructional space as well as industry tenants. Construction began on the project, which will support Northwest's nanoscience degree program, in 2005.

Brock University broke ground in September of 2009 on the $111 million Niagara Health and Bioscience Research Complex in St. Catherines, Ontario. The 169,000-sf project will house Canada's only research-dedicated CL3 biocontainment facility. Designed by architectsAlliance in association with Payette, the complex is being built by EllisDon with Crossey Engineering as electrical and mechanical consultant, MHPM as project manager, and Halsall Associates as LEED consultant.

United Therapeutics opened its $80 million pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., in late summer of 2009. The 203,000-sf project was designed by O'Neal and provides solid dosage and sterile filling manufacturing facilities. The LEED-certified facility includes a data center, an auditorium, R&D and QA/QC labs, offices, warehouse space, and a fully integrated formulation pilot plant.

The University of Windsor will break ground in fall of 2009 on the $112 million Centre for Engineering Innovation in Windsor, Ontario. Funded by $40 million from the federal government and $40 million from the provincial government, the 300,000-sf facility will be built in two phases. The first phase is comprised of research laboratories and an industrial courtyard and is slated for completion by March of 2011. The second phase includes classrooms, offices, and research facilities and will reach completion in summer of 2012.

Beijing Vigoo Biological Co. is building the New Vaccine National Engineering Research Center in the Beijing Economic-Technological Developement Area. The 22,749-sm project will cost RMB 200 million to build and is slated for completion in December of 2010. Construction began in late June of 2009. Supporting vaccine research and development for H1N1 influenza, hepatitis, and measles, the facility will include five pilot-scale production lines, laboratories, and support. Beijing Vigoo Biological Co.

Michigan State University opened its $2 million large animal MRI suite in East Lansing in August of 2009. Supporting research for the College of Veterinary Medicine, the facility provides diagnostic imaging for animals such as horses and cattle. Construction began on the project in January of 2009.