Industry News

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo is initiating three major construction projects totaling $33 million. Ground was broken in late summer of 2007 on the 48,000-sf, $18 million Coulter Research Building for biomedical and translational research. The School of Pharmacy will undergo an $8 million, 23,000-sf expansion to house administration, academic space, two 120-seat instructional classrooms, a 26-station instructional laboratory, and a patient simulation center for teaching and assessment. Construction will begin in early 2008.

Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is planning to invest $1 billion over the next 15 years to expand its facilities. At the Longwood Medical Area campus, over 550,000 sf of patient care space will be added, including operating rooms, clinical space, and 130 beds. A new suburban ambulatory care center will also be constructed. Estimated at between 100,000 sf and 150,000 sf, the facility will include primary and specialist care, ambulatory surgery, and radiology. 

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers is developing Proposed Standard 189.2, “Design, Construction and Operation of High-Performance Green Health Care Facilities.” Describing procedures, methods, and documentation requirements for sustainable health care facilities, the standard will be a code-intended baseline for efficiency and performance. It will apply to patient care areas and related support areas, including hospitals, nursing facilities and outpatient facilities.

The University of Chicago has appointed Laurence Hill as Associate Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories. The position was created due to a new University contract with Fermilab and will include responsibility for site office operations, University contract management, and board staffing for Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

Rose State College broke ground on August 16, 2007 on the $9.09 million health sciences center in Midwest City, Okla. Designed by Benham Companies of Oklahoma City, the single story, 47,000-sf facility is slated for completion in late 2008. The project contractor is Atlas General Contractors of Bixby. The laboratory-rich building will accommodate the college’s seven health sciences programs and increased space for equipment and training. The facility will also house offices, computer labs, classrooms, and conference rooms.