Industry News

Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) opened in Redondo, Wash., in late summer of 2008. The 2,500-sf facility features five aquariums, three ‘touch’ tanks, and direct saltwater access. The building houses research and classroom space for oceanography, marine biology, and environmental science. Construction began on the $2 million project in 2006.

Merck Serono and U.S. affiliate EMD Serono initiated construction in fall of 2008 on a $78 million research expansion in Billerica, Ma. The 125,000-sf project is slated for completion in late 2010 and will include laboratories for pharmaceutical discovery and production.

The University of South Carolina broke ground in late 2008 on the $30 million Horizon II facility in Columbia, S.C. The five-story, 110,000-sf building is being built by general contractor Kirco. Completion is expected in 2009. Two five-story academic and research buildings, Horizon I and Discovery I, are also expected to reach completion in 2009.

Pennsylvania State University is constructing the $121 million Cancer Institute at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa. Slated for occupancy in spring of 2009, the facility will house clinical and basic science research laboratories and instructional facilities for the College of Medicine.

Covidien, a pharmaceutical and healthcare products manufacturer, is expanding its St. Louis County operations. In Maryland Heights, a $72 million expansion will add over 12,000-sf to the existing 364,000-sf facility, including 5,000-sf for radiopharmaceutical production. Construction will begin in 2009 with completion expected in 2011. The project team includes CH2M Hill Lockwood Greene of Englewood, Colo., and general contractor McGrath & Associates of St. Louis.