Harvard University completed construction on the $1 billion Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) in Boston in spring of 2021. Sited adjacent to Harvard's enterprise campus in Allston, the eight-story, 544,000-sf project was designed by Behnisch Architekten as a living laboratory for interdisciplinary research, learning, and innovation. Housing the John A.
Indiana Tech broke ground in May of 2021 on a $21.5 million expansion and renovation of Zollner Engineering Center in Fort Wayne. The first phase of the project comprises a 30,000-sf addition that will open in fall of 2022. Renovation of the existing 40,000-sf structure will begin in May of 2022 with occupancy expected in fall of 2023. Classrooms and labs in the center will remain open throughout the project. Academic and research activities will be relocated into the addition to enable the renovation to proceed.
Washington State University dedicated the $61.9 million Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in May of 2021. Designed by Perkins&Will, the 61,000-sf facility represents an expansion of the Paul G. Allen Center for Global Animal Health in Pullman. Enabling the detection and diagnosis of human and animal diseases including SARS-CoV-2, avian influenza, BSE, and West Nile virus, the three-story building houses instructional venues, collaboration spaces, a high-bay necropsy suite, and specialized labs for testing, research, and development.
The University of British Columbia is planning to construct the CAD$180 million Gateway Building on the Point Grey campus in Vancouver. Designed by Perkins&Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen, the 269,000-sf project will offer sophisticated facilities for interprofessional education and research including wet and dry laboratories, high-fidelity simulation suites, flexible classrooms, and four large lecture halls.
Moderna is initiating a major expansion of the 300,000-sf Moderna Technology Center in Norwood, Mass. Providing additional production capacity for mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, the 350,000-sf project will include the acquisition of a 240,000-sf structure and the renovation of existing buildings. Enabling a 50 percent increase in the plant's commercial COVID-19 vaccine output by early 2022, the new facilities will also support the creation of thousands of preclinical research samples per month.
The University of Southern California broke ground in May of 2021 on the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Human-Centered Computation Hall in Los Angeles. Located on the University Park campus, the 116,000-sf facility will accommodate the Viterbi School of Engineering’s programs in artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, cryptography, internet technology, health computing, software development, and computer graphics.
Nanotronics opened its 45,000-sf headquarters and manufacturing hub in May of 2021 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. Seamlessly integrating research, development, and production activities, the technology-rich facility supports the creation of smart factory hardware and software that combines robotics, optical microscopy, artificial intelligence, and machine learning platforms.
Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the first quarter of 2021. Key points include:
Greatland Realty Partners began construction in April of 2021 on Revolution Labs in Lexington, Mass. Designed by SGA, the three-story, 180,000-sf life sciences building will provide leasable laboratory and office facilities for biomedical and pharmaceutical companies.
Oklahoma State University broke ground in April of 2021 on the $100 million New Frontiers Agricultural Hall in Stillwater. Designed by PGAV Architects and Studio Architecture, the collaborative building will feature leading-edge environments for experiential learning including interactive classrooms and teaching labs that can serve multiple disciplines.
The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering has announced the 2021 Facility of the Year Awards category winners. The awards include:
Bowdoin College held a groundbreaking ceremony in April of 2021 for the John and Lile Gibbons Center for Arctic Studies in Brunswick, Maine. Designed by HGA, the 16,426-sf facility will be dedicated to the broad multidisciplinary study of the Arctic. Interactive teaching and laboratory spaces will enable faculty, students, and visiting researchers to better understand the region's unique environmental conditions and challenges.
Old Dominion University dedicated the $75.6 million Chemistry Building in April of 2021 in Norfolk, Va. Designed by SmithGroup and Moseley Architects, the four-story, 110,500-sf facility provides 24 research labs, 13 teaching labs, and a digital theater and planetarium that doubles as an instructional venue for advanced chemistry and biochemistry courses.
Life sciences developer IQHQ began construction in April of 2021 on the $1 billion Fenway Center in Boston. Created in collaboration with Meredith Management, the biomedical research hub will be situated over the Massachusetts Turnpike on an air rights deck. The amenity-rich campus will include two towers offering 960,000 sf of leasable lab and office space, 10,000 sf of ground-floor retail, and an automated parking garage.
The University of Warwick completed construction in March of 2021 on the £33 million Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building in Coventry in the United Kingdom. Designed by Hawkins\Brown and Fairhursts Design Group, the 75,000-sf facility provides flexible open labs for up to 300 researchers in neuroscience, cell biology, disease models, and microbiology and infection.
