Amgen broke ground in November of 2021 on a $365 million biomanufacturing plant in New Albany, Ohio. Created by the design-build team of CRB and Turner Construction, the smart factory will leverage advanced automation technologies to optimize the assembly and packaging of injectable medicines. The 270,000-sf facility will accommodate 400 new employees and an array of collaborative and industrial robots.
Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the third quarter of 2021. Key points include:
Sterling Bay began construction in October of 2021 on a 320,000-sf life sciences center in Chicago. Designed by Gensler, the eight-story ALLY building will provide leading-edge lab and office environments for biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants. With 15’ floor-to-floor heights, the 280,000-rsf project will offer flexible floor plates of approximately 42,000 sf.
The University of Arizona began construction in October of 2021 on a $42 million renovation and expansion of the historic Old Chemistry Building in Tucson. Designed by Shepley Bulfinch and Poster Mirto McDonald, the project will provide the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with 55,000 sf of renovated space featuring four new collaborative classrooms, three teaching studios for online instruction, a visualization cave for immersive virtual learning, and technology-rich research labs.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies broke ground in October of 2021 on a $2 billion production facility in Holly Springs, N.C. Enabling large-scale cell culture manufacturing for the creation of bulk drug substances, the structure will accommodate eight 20,000-liter bioreactors with the expansion potential for a further 24 20,000-liter bioreactors to meet market demand. Powered by clean energy, the sustainably designed complex will feature advanced systems for waste disposal and recycling.
The University of Vermont is building the $45 million Firestone Medical Research Building in Burlington. Designed by Payette and Black River Design, the collaborative 62,250-sf structure will provide the Larner College of Medicine with core facilities, flexible labs, conference rooms, and support spaces.
The University of Arizona broke ground in September of 2021 on the $99 million Grand Challenges Research Building in Tucson. Designed by ZGF Architects and BWS Architects, the 115,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will provide flexible labs for programs in optics, quantum computing, advanced communications, and biomedicine.
Moderna is partnering with Alexandria Real Estate Equities to create a 462,000-rsf headquarters and research facility at the Alexandria Center development at One Kendall Square. Accelerating the discovery and development of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, the collaborative structure will feature leading-edge R&D labs, sophisticated offices, and engaging gathering spaces.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is planning to begin construction in 2023 on a $225 million facility for the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. Catalyzing synergies between academic researchers and industry partners, the seven-story, 300,000-sf building will provide a dynamic nexus for Wisconsin’s growing tech ecosystem while meeting increased demand for programs in robotics, cybersecurity, software design, and machine learning.
Santa Clara University opened the $253.5 million Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation in September of 2021. Designed by ZGF Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 270,000-sf facility provides leading-edge teaching and research environments for STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
AstraZeneca is planning to construct a $360 million manufacturing center in the Blanchardstown region of Dublin. Located on the Alexion Campus in College Park, the next-generation facility will leverage advanced process technologies and digital innovation solutions to produce small-molecule APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients). Significantly reducing commercialization lead times, the sustainably designed structure will integrate lean manufacturing practices to lower operating costs and reduce carbon emissions.
Virginia Tech broke ground in fall of 2021 on the first academic building on its Innovation Campus in Alexandria. Designed by SmithGroup, the 300,000-gsf facility will offer experiential learning environments, maker spaces, flexible multipurpose areas, faculty offices, and research and testing labs for the school's graduate programs in computer science and engineering.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals broke ground in August of 2021 on the 45,000-sf Advanced Development Center in Dartmouth, Mass. Enabling the production of clinical-stage vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, the BSL-2 facility will utilize single-use bioreactors and purification suites for optimal efficiency and flexibility. The cGMP center will also offer state-of-the-art research, development, and analytical suites. Approximately 70 scientists, technicians, and manufacturing staff will work in the turnkey building.
The U.S. Department of Energy will begin construction in fall of 2021 on the $19.5 million Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) in Golden, Colo. Located on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's South Table Mountain campus, the 15,700-sf facility will provide 5,500 sf of flexible lab space for cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, bioscience, and engineering.
Trinity College Dublin began construction in September of 2021 on the Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry in Ireland. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to promote collaboration and innovation, the six-story, 78,577-sf building will be shared by the schools of engineering, natural sciences, and computer science and statistics. Enabling a dynamic pedagogy of project-based learning, the $71 million interdisciplinary facility will offer maker spaces, studios, and interactive classrooms to support Trinity's Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies initiative.
