Pharmaceutical

Novartis AG began construction in February 2006 on a new research, development, and production plant in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China. Part of the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company's global production and supply chain, the $83-million project is expected to be fully operation by year-end 2007. Novartis is also planning to expand its Beijing Novartis Pharma plant and possibly construct an additional research facility in China as part of the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research.

Novartis broke ground in July 2005 on a $116-million expansion of its East Hanover, N.J., headquarters campus. Two 144,000-sf facilities will be constructed, the first reaching completion in October of 2006, the second in May of 2007.

Pfizer is planning a three-phase expansion of its New Jersey operations. Phase one is comprised of construction of a $218.5-million, 250,000-sf research and development building in Morris Plains. Phase two is construction of a 450,000-sf to 500,000-sf office facility, also in Morris Plains. Phase three consists of construction of a 160,000-sf research and development addition, including renovation of adjacent space for manufacturing support in Parsippany.

United Therapeutics will complete construction on its $32-million laboratory production facility in Silver Spring, Md., in spring of 2006. Sited adjacent to the company's existing biotech headquarters, the 50,000-sf, three-story building was developed and funded by Wachovia Development, who will lease it back to United Therapeutics through 2011. The facility, which broke ground in 2004, will accommodate drug development and pilot production.

Biovalve Technologies, a manufacturer of drug-delivery systems, will expand its 23,500-sf research and development facility in Westborough, Mass., by 40,000 sf to 45,000 sf. Adding manufacturing capacity, the expansion will begin by spring of 2006 with initial clinical and commercial production beginning at the facility by the end of the year. The project represents an investment of $8 million.

Arizona State University is constructing the $12-million Interdisciplinary Science and Technology building at its Polytechnic campus in Mesa, Ariz. The three-story, 34,600-sf facility will house the Biodesign Institute's Plant Made Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturing Facility, the Applied Cognitive Science Center, and the Healthy Lifestyles Center. Including 25,000 sf of research space, wet labs, offices, conference rooms, observation rooms, and exercise facilities, the building is slated for completion by the end of 2005.

New York-based Pfizer began construction in November 2005 on a 330,000-sf expansion of its 900,000-sf Chesterfield, Mo., campus. Slated to open in 2008, the $200-million research and development facility will accommodate approximately 250 employees relocated from other sites engaged in drug research. The four-story building is slated for completion in late 2008 and is being constructed by a joint venture of Gilbane Building Co. and Tarlton Corp.

Menlo Park, Calif.-based Bridge Pharmaceuticals is opening a 100,000-sf research facility in the Zhong-guancun Life Science Park in Beijing, China. The facility is designed to meet U.S. regulatory standards for animal testing and laboratory practice. Additionally, the contract research company is planning to acquire a preclinical testing facility in Taiwan.

The University of Kentucky will complete the $17-million Center for Pharmaceutical Science and Technology on the 735-acre Coldstream Research Campus in Lexington in February of 2006. The center is one of two in the nation approved by the FDA to manufacture small drug batches for human trials. Additionally, private developer Kale Roscoe of Michigan is planning to construct two five-story buildings housing offices and labs at the research park.

Bavarian Nordic A/S started vaccine production at its 9,000-square meter facility in Kvistgaard, Denmark, on July 4, 2005. Built by engineering and consultancy company NNE , construction on the 11-month fast-track project began on August 1, 2004. The facility can produce 40 to 60 million doses of Imvamune™ (the company’s MVA smallpox vaccine) annually.

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals opened its 1.2 million-sf Grange Castle biotech production facility on September 8, 2005. Located in South County Dublin, Ireland, the $2 billion project began site work in October of 2002. Employing over 1,000 workers, the facility is comprised of three separate buildings: a drug development unit, a drug substance site, and a drug product facility. Production will begin on a phased basis over the next four years.

Human Genome Sciences (HGS) is nearing completion of its $250-million manufacturing facility in Rockville, Md. Sited on ten acres on the Belward Research Campus of Johns Hopkins University near HGS' existing headquarters, the 290,000-sf facility will enable HGS to produce several different biotech drugs on a commercial scale including human proteins, antibodies, and fusion proteins created by the joining of two genes. Construction is expected to reach completion by year-end 2005 with validation of the facility to follow in 2006. 

Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis AG has renovated the historic 1927 New England Candy Co. factory in Cambridge to create a 500,000-sf biomedical research facility. The renovated building now houses labs, offices, breakout rooms, a 180-seat auditorium, two conference rooms, and a six-story atrium. Designed to foster interaction and collaboration, the labs and offices are co-located, with breakout rooms and kitchens on the perimeter of each floor. The building features state-of-the-art power, water, air handling, communications, and security systems.

The University of Florida is developing the 23,500-gsf Center of Excellence for Regenerative Heath Biotechnology in Alachua County, Fla. Sited 13 miles from the University's Gainesville campus in the Sid Martin Biotechnology Development Incubator in the Progress Corporate Park, the facility will house up to 11,080 sf of cleanrooms and support space.

Corixa Corp., a developer of immunotherapeutics, has completed its new 130,000-sf headquarters in Seattle, Wa. Designed by Seattle-based MBT Architects, the five-story facility includes a lobby and reception area with a fireplace, two decks, dining, seminar room, and workout room. Designed to foster communication and interaction, the headquarters features warm wood and color tones which carry into the flexible, open laboratories. On each floor, two large labs are connected to each other with adjoining support spaces.