Research and Development

Changing needs for vivariums have presented facilities managers with an array of challenges: creating more space for housing research animals within existing facilities; ensuring that the environments in which animals are kept meet guidelines set by scientific research agencies and organizations; and ensuring the spaces in which researchers conduct their experiments host well-run vivariums that contribute to, rather than inhibit, the ability to reproduce their results. Manufacturers are responding to these needs with more space-efficient caging systems, more precise and cost-effective environmental controls for animal holding rooms, and technology that can automatically track the health of animals in cages.

The University of Lethbridge opened the CAD$280 million Science Commons in September of 2019 in Lethbridge, Alberta. Collocating the departments of biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and physics and astronomy, the transdisciplinary building provides flexible teaching and research labs, academic classrooms, meeting rooms, gathering areas, and a central atrium. Designed by Stantec and KPMB, the 387,500-sf facility includes a community education venue with interactive science displays.

The Air Force Research Laboratory will break ground in fall of 2019 on the $12 million Open Innovation Campus in Rome, N.Y. Located at Griffiss International Airport, the facility is being constructed in partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, The Griffiss Institute, and Oneida County. The project includes the renovation of a three-story, 40,000-sf building to create leading-edge research space for the study of artificial intelligence and quantum information science.

Raytheon is planning to build a 200,000-sf advanced manufacturing facility in McKinney, Texas. Supporting Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems division, the center will act as a 'factory of the future' for the production of sensors, high-energy lasers, electro-optical devices, and surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Completion is expected in late 2020. Raytheon is a technology and innovation company specializing in defense, civil government, and cybersecurity solutions.

Tarleton State University opened the $54 million Engineering Building in August of 2019 in Stephenville, Texas. Designed by Stantec, the 97,000-sf facility provides classrooms, labs, active learning rooms, and offices to support programs in computer science, engineering, and engineering technology. Featuring specialized spaces for robotics, prototyping, fluid dynamics, and materials testing, the three-story building includes a capstone workroom, a wind tunnel, a flume, and high-bay labs.

Amgen broke ground in late July of 2019 on a $200 million biomanufacturing center in West Greenwich, R.I. Featuring a highly flexible, modular design, the next-generation facility will leverage advanced technologies to reduce operational expenses, consume 80 percent less energy and water, and achieve a 75 percent decrease in carbon emissions.

The University of Colorado Boulder opened the $101 million Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building in August of 2019. Designed by HCM (Hord Coplan Macht) and RATIO Architects, the collaborative 178,294-sf facility provides bioastronautics labs, high bay spaces, workshops, fabrication suites, interactive classrooms, faculty offices, a 200-seat auditorium, and an indoor flight environment for unmanned aircraft.

DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners and Leggat McCall Properties are building a Class-A laboratory building in Somerville, Mass. The nine-story, 289,000-sf facility will provide leading-edge research and office space for life sciences and technology companies. The mixed-use development will include dedicated retail space on the ground floor and four levels of underground parking.

Augusta University broke ground in August of 2019 on the $70 million College of Science and Mathematics in Augusta, Ga. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the 125,000-sf facility will provide teaching and research labs, offices, conference rooms, breakout spaces, student gathering and study areas, and a tutorial center. The interdisciplinary building is strategically sited on Augusta's Health Sciences Campus to provide opportunities for undergraduate research and promote collaboration.

Indiana State University opened the College of Health and Human Services in August of 2019 in Terre Haute, Ind. Collocating programs in nursing, social work, applied health science, and kinesiology and sports medicine, the collaborative 185,000-sf complex offers leading-edge facilities for education, training, and research. The first phase of the project was completed in 2018 and included construction of a four-story, 85,000-sf addition housing classrooms and offices.

HALIX is constructing a 72,000-sf cGMP facility at Leiden Bio Science Park in the Netherlands. Utilizing 1000-liter, single-use bioreactors, the five-story building will accommodate the development and manufacture of biopharmaceutical drug substances for clinical and commercial applications. Housing labs for process development, analytical development, and quality control, the structure will feature cleanrooms with unidirectional process flows with separate areas for protein manufacturing and the production of viral vaccines and viral vectors.

The University of Strathclyde is working with government and industry partners to create the £65 million National Manufacturing Institute Scotland in Inchinnan. The 124,000-sf facility will house the Digital Factory 2050, the Manufacturing Skills Academy, the Innovation Collaboratory, and a business forum.

Adaptive Biotechnologies is expanding its presence in Seattle with the lease of a 100,000-sf headquarters building in Seattle. The lab and office facility is located in the Lake Union life science district and is being developed by Alexandria Real Estate Equities. Adaptive will occupy the entire structure, which is sited adjacent to its existing facility. Building amenities will include an open-air plaza, a rooftop desk, a fitness center, locker and shower rooms, and direct access to water sports on Lake Union.

Gonzaga University will begin construction in fall of 2019 on the $56 million Integrated Science and Engineering Building in Spokane, Wash. Designed by SRG Architects in association with Integrus, the collaborative 82,679-sf facility will physically connect to the PACCAR Center for Applied Science and Hughes Hall to create a campus nexus for STEM education.

Foundation Medicine will locate its 580,000-sf life science headquarters in a planned 625,000-sf building in Boston's Seaport Square. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects and Stantec, the leased building will provide leading-edge research, collaboration, and administrative facilities to support the creation of innovative biomedical therapies.