Industry News

Community Hospital South is engaged in a $130 million expansion of its Indianapolis healthcare facility. The 194,000-sf project is comprised of a five-story patient tower and six surgical suites. Construction began in June of 2008 with completion expected in mid-2010. The project architect is RTKL of Dallas with BSA Life Structures as engineering consultant. The sustainably-designed facility will feature abundant natural light to create a healing environment for patients.

RMIT University will break ground in August of 2009 on a $200 million academic building in Melbourne. Designed by Lyons Architects, the 10-story, 34,350-sm facility will include 64 teaching spaces, 12 lecture theatres, 10 learning areas, a two-story student interaction area, and departmental space for the College of Business. The sustainably-designed project will feature external sun shades, greywater recycling, solar hot water, and a natural ventilation system.

The Medical University of South Carolina began construction on a 28,000-sf biomedical research facility in Charleston in March of 2009. The $5.5 million Innovation Center project involves renovation of an existing warehouse facility to create a 28,000-sf business incubator housing technology-rich research labs and offices. Completion is expected in November of 2009. The project is created in collaboration with the South Carolina Research Authority and the city of Charleston.

Royal DSM N.V., a global life and materials science company based in the Netherlands, opened its new plastics manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, India, in March of 2009. The plant is sited on 25 acres and will produce engineering plastics compounds for the manufacture of molded components for the automotive, electronics, and consumer goods industries. The greenfield facility will promote DSM Engineering Plastic’s growth in the Indian plastics market, supporting customers in the early stages of product and application development as well as the testing of polymers.

Louisiana Cancer Research Center initiated construction in early 2009 on a $100 million research facility in New Orleans. Created by a partnership of Tulane University Health Sciences Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, the 250,000-sf project is sited on two acres between the collaborating institutions. The facility was designed by RMJM Hillier with Brice Building Company as general contractor. Completion is expected in August of 2011.