Industry News

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was awarded $15.9 million in December of 2009 by the U.S. Department of Energy to build a new National User Facility for Net-Zero Energy Buildings. Supporting research in building systems integration and the design of net-zero energy buildings, the N-ZEB laboratory facilities will enable researchers from universities, private industry, and other government labs to develop advanced building systems and technologies.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare will break ground in early 2010 on a research and development facility in Auckland, New Zealand. The building will house laboratories, offices, manufacturing facilities, and warehouse space. Completion is expected in late 2012.

Northrop Grumman Corporation opened the 156,000-sf Innovation Institute in Linthicum, Md., in December of 2009. The advanced technology center houses 450 engineers, researchers, and staff engaged in collaborative research and development of global defense electronics technologies. Featuring team research laboratories, modular offices, and a 175-seat conference center, the LEED-certified facility was built by Manekin Construction of Columbia. 

The National Center for Atmospheric Research will build a $66 million supercomputer facility in Cheyenne, Wyo. The 153,000-sf project will be constructed by Saunders Construction of Denver. Supporting advanced climate modeling, the computer will comprise more than 100,000 processors in a 24,000-sf area with a sub-floor ten feet deep to accommodate infrastructure and cooling needs. Occupancy is expected by year-end 2011.

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors opened its LED chip production plant in Penang, Malaysia, in December of 2009. Ground was broken on the 35,000-sm project in July of 2007. The building is the world’s most advanced LED chip plant and includes cleanroom facilities.