Research and Development

Thomas Jefferson University is planning to build the $325 million Caroline Kimmel Biomedical Research Center in Philadelphia. Accommodating 56 NIH-funded investigators and their teams, the 12-story, 220,000-sf facility will enable the discovery of innovative treatments for cancer and other diseases. The project is designed to create a new research corridor and includes construction of a bridge to the adjacent Bluemle Life Sciences Building to foster connections with faculty and clinicians at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

The US Navy broke ground on the Cyber Warfare Engineering Laboratory in December of 2019 in Dahlgren, Va. The 10,000-sf facility will provide classified research space for the development, testing, and analysis of hardware and software systems for military weapon systems. Designed as a consolidated hub for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division's cyber engineering operations, the project will enable the creation of resilient network platforms and infrastructure, as well as accommodating interactive personnel training and evaluation.

Boston University broke ground on the $288 million Center for Computing & Data Sciences in December of 2019. Located on the Charles River Campus, the 19-story structure will comprise a four-story podium topped by 13 floors, with MEP systems located on additional basement and penthouse levels. Collocating the departments of statistics, mathematics, and computer science, the 350,000-sf building will include terraced platforms with whiteboard walls and a collaboration ramp to promote interaction and innovation.

Unilever opened the Foods Innovation Centre in December of 2019. Located on the campus of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, the $94 million Hive facility offers collaborative research and development facilities for the creation of sustainable food products. Designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects, the 439,706-sf innovation hub provides laboratories, an expansive atrium, a pilot plant, an innovation kitchen, an auditorium, a food bar, a retail market, and an underground parking garage.

The new 100,000-sf AstraZeneca site in South San Francisco, located in the Cove at Oyster Point complex, is the company’s first facility where open offices and labs are seamlessly integrated with each other to promote increased mobility and interaction among the researchers. Housing around 400 employees, the building brings together staff from AstraZeneca’s Technology Innovation & Delivery Excellence (TIDE) unit, as well as subsidiaries MedImmune, Acerta Pharma, and Pearl Therapeutics into one state-of-the-art facility at the center of the Bay Area’s vibrant biotech and technology sector. 

Louisiana Tech University opened the $40 million Integrated Engineering and Science Building in December of 2019 in Ruston. Designed by Bledsoe Architects, the three-story, 130,000-sf facility offers engaging spaces for project-based learning such as prototyping suites, fabrication labs, and design studios.

Emory University broke ground on a $260 million biomedical research facility in December of 2019 in Atlanta. Designed by HOK to promote synergy and innovation, the multidisciplinary building will offer 346,000 sf of dedicated research space for programs in biomedical engineering, imaging sciences, cardiovascular medicine, oncology, pediatric health, inflammation, emerging infections, and immunity and immunotherapeutics.

Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the third quarter of 2019. Key points include:

Concordia University of Nebraska opened the $24.5 million Dunklau Center for Science, Math and Business in November of 2019 in Seward. Comprising 58,000 sf of new construction and 28,000 sf of renovated space, the 86,000-sf facility accommodates programs in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, agricultural science, mathematics, business, and computer science.

HALIX opened a 72,000-sf biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing center in November of 2019 at Leiden Bio Science Park in the Netherlands. The five-story structure provides BSL-2 cleanrooms with unidirectional process flows that can easily be upgraded to BSL-3 as needed. A manufacturing line with a 250-liter bioreactor capacity supports the production of viral vaccines and viral vectors, while a separate protein manufacturing area accommodates single-use bioreactors with a capacity of up to 1,000 liters.

The Ohio State University is planning to construct two collocated research facilities in its West Campus innovation district in Columbus. Designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners and Moody Nolan, the 305,000-sf Interdisciplinary Research Facility will provide a vivarium, support spaces, and wet, computational, and core labs for programs in engineering and medical research.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo dedicated the $31 million Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy in December of 2019. Designed by SmithGroup and WCIT Architecture, the 45,000-sf facility offers technology-rich environments for applied learning including collaborative classrooms, teaching labs, seminar rooms, and a simulated pharmacy. The three-story structure includes research labs for pharmaceutical discovery as well as a medication therapy management suite, consultation rooms, and a resource center.

Thermo Fisher Scientific opened a $90 million viral vector facility in December of 2019 in Lexington, Mass. Featuring specialized GMP laboratories, the 50,000-sf project will accommodate the development, testing, and manufacture of viral vectors for the creation of gene and cell therapies. The center will act as a CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) site and will offer services including from drug development through clinical trials and commercial production.

Florida Atlantic University hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for its $35 million Neuroscience Building in Jupiter in November of 2019. Construction will begin in summer of 2020 on the facility, which will provide shared research labs, faculty offices, a business incubator, and instructional space for programs in neuroscience, biotechnology, bioengineering, bioinformatics, and chemistry. The 58,000-sf project is strategically sited on the John D.

AZI is constructing an 85,000-sf isoptope production and research facility in Bunker Hill, Ind. The $44.5 million project includes the expansion of a 55,000-sf shell building by 30,000 sf to accommodate a 280,000-pound 70MeV cyclotron. The existing structure was purchased at a cost of $2.8 million. AZI (Arizona Isotopes Science Research Corp.) is based in Phoenix and supplies medical isotopes to companies and institutions worldwide. The facility is strategically sited near the Grissom Aeroplex, a public and military airport with a 12,500-sf runway.