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Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) began construction on its Onna-Son campus in late 2006. The interdisciplinary research institute will accommodate approximately 300 faculty and 3,000 researchers in the areas of life science, neuroscience, biology, chemistry, nanotechnology, engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physics. Housing research facilities, laboratories, seminar rooms, a library, auditorium, housing, and dining, the two-site campus will feature a three-wing laboratory zone designed to maximize interaction and collaboration.

The shell of phase one is slated for completion in late March of 2009, with interior fit-out completed six months later. The design architect for the laboratory and lab support spaces is Kornberg Associates, a firm with offices in Menlo Park, Calif., San Diego, and Tokyo. The master plan for the 2.5 million-gsf campus and the design of the first 700,000-gsf phase was created by the a joint venture of Kornberg Associates with Japanese A&E firms Nikken Sekkei and Kuniken. Phase one will accommodate 50 researchers and approximately 500,000-gsf of laboratories and support space. The 200,000-gsf village which will house up to half of the research staff is expected to being construction in 2008.