Industry News

Momentive Performance Materials, a silicones manufacturer, will begin construction in 2009 on an $81 million headquarters and R&D center in Rensselaer, N.Y. Consolidating operations from several locations, the project is comprised of a $65 million, 124,000-sf research and development facility and a $16 million headquarters.

Clarion University’s $33.7 million science and technology center in Clarion, Pa., is slated for completion in May of 2009. Built to meet LEED certification standards, the 98,000-sf facility will house 40 laboratories (including teaching labs), 55 offices, seven classrooms, and two seminar rooms. The facility was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson with RFD (Research Facilities Design) as laboratory design consultant. Clarion University is also constructing the Biotechnology Business Development Center at Trinity Point.

NATCO broke ground in July of 2008 on its new research and development center in Houston. The 30,000-sf facility will accommodate the development of process solutions for large scale pilot plants as well as providing laboratory services and computer and scale modeling. Featuring technology demonstration areas, training facilities, and conference rooms, the facility will support NATCO’s oil and gas industry technologies.

Botsford Hospital’s $16.5 million cancer center in Farmington, Mich., will reach completion in January of 2009. LEED Silver certification for sustainable design will be sought for the 30,000-sf facility, which will use 30 percent less water and 17.5 percent less energy than comparable buildings. The project will feature low-VOC interior finishes, rainwater harvesting, and recycling of construction waste.

Purdue University is constructing the Wayne T. and Mary T. Hockmeyer Hall of Structural Biology in West Lafayette, Ind. The $30 million, 65,690-sf building broke ground in October of 2007 and will house the Markey Center for Structural Biology. Completion is slated for fall of 2009.