Industry News

Genzyme Corp. initiated construction in September of 2009 on a $100 million R&D Center in Beijing. The 200,000-sf facility will accommodate 350 employees engaged in biologics and gene therapy research. Completion is expected in 2011.

Enerkem is partnering with GreenField Ethanol to construct the $10 million Advanced Energy Research Facility in Edmonton, Alberta. Ground was broken on the pilot-scale plant in September of 2009 with completion expected in early 2010. The facility will support research on the conversion of commercial waste into biofuels and chemicals.

The $100 million Mercy Medical Center West Lakes opened in September of 2009 in West Des Moines, Iowa. The seven-story, 239,000-sf hospital houses 82 inpatient beds, a 24-hour emergency department, surgical suites, cardiovascular and orthopedic care facilities, and a birthing center. Mercy Medical Center West Lakes is part of Mercy Health Network, which is a member organization of Catholic Health Initiatives.

Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island opened its 140,000-sf South Pavilion in Providence in September of 2009. Designed by Anshen + Allen with Walsh Brothers as construction manager, the five-story facility features a 50,000-sf neonatal intensive care unit with 70 single-family private rooms. Providing specialty obstetric care for high-risk pregnancies, the tower also houses a 30-room Antenatal Care Unit. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

Medplast completed an expansion of its 50,000-sf manufacturing facility in Tempe, Ariz., in September of 2009. The project features two Class 100,000 cleanrooms for injection molding and automated assembly as well as white room manufacturing suites.