Southern Research Constructs Biotechnology Center

Southern Research will begin construction in mid-2022 on an $84 million biotechnology center in Birmingham, Ala. Providing crucial biocontainment capacity for the study of infectious diseases, the 80,000-sf building will enhance pandemic preparedness efforts with BSL-3 laboratories spanning 7,500 sf. The five-level project will also include structural biology labs, high-throughput screening facilities, and a STEM education center. Housing the Center for Innovation and Commercialization, the collaborative building is designed to attract and incubate new biomedical companies with 60,000 sf of leasable wet lab space. On the top floor, the Center for Precision Population Health will enable leading scientists to discover new ways to optimize the wellbeing of Alabama residents. General contractor Brasfield & Gorrie began demolition of an existing structure on the site in January of 2022.