Industry News

The University of California, Berkeley has selected contractor McCarthy to build the $160 million Li Ka Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences. Accommodating research into the molecular basis for disease, the facility will focus on infectious diseases, gene regulation, stem cell biology, and neurodegenerative diseases. The project architect is Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership. Construction is slated to begin in 2008 and reach completion in 2011.

Florida Atlantic University will break ground in fall of 2008 on a new College of Engineering facility in Boca Raton. Part of a planned 250,000-sf College of Engineering complex, the first phase will house between 80,000-sf and 100,000-sf of classroom, laboratory, computing, and administrative space. The project architect is Schwab, Twitty & Hanser with James A. Cummings Inc. as construction manager. Green Building Services is providing LEED consultation. The facility is expected to reach LEED Platinum certification.

The University of California, San Francisco broke ground on the $254 million Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) on May 7, 2008. Located on the University’s Mission Bay campus, the 232,000-sf collaborative facility will house biomedical research laboratories and an outpatient clinic. Occupancy is slated for 2011.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $267 million for the construction of 12 stem cell research facilities on May 7, 2008. Supported by institutional and philanthropic financing, a total of $832 million in stem cell research facilities will be constructed in California.

TRUMPF Inc. opened its 86,000-sf Laser Innovation & Technical Excellence (LITE) Building on April 30, 2008 in Farmington, Conn.  The $29 million research and development facility features a 55,200-sf production hall and a 6,000-sf, Class 10,000 manufacturing cleanroom. The building broke ground in fall of 2006 and can accommodate 120 employees.