Industry News

The University of South Florida (USF) will break ground in spring of 2006 on the 70,000-sf Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation at the University Research Park in Tampa. Expected to cost between $60-million and $70-million, the center will house laboratories for physician skill training, medical product development, and a virtual hospital and simulation center. The facility will bring R&D and surgical skills training together under one roof. Completion is expected in late summer to late fall of 2007.

Simmons College will construct a 65,500-sf facility for the School of Management on its Fenway campus in Boston. The five-story building is expected to reach completion in two and a half years and will include a new quadrangle and underground parking. The facility is targeted for certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for design elements such as lower energy consumption, materials used, air quality, and natural lighting.

Bodine Aluminum has awarded MC Industrial Inc. the $11.2-million contract to expand Bodine's engine casting plant in Jackson, Tenn. by 78,200 sf. The project is the third phase of Bodine's Jackson expansion and will add 65,000 sf to the main plant, 5,700 sf to the administration building, and 7,500 sf to the utility building. Completion is expected in October of 2006. Bodine is a subsidiary of Toyota; MC Industrial is an independent McCarthy company.  

The University of Washington will begin renovating laboratories at the Washington Regional Primate Research Center in Seattle in spring of 2006. Currently equipped for BSL-2 research, the primate facility will be upgraded to meet new research standards. The project is funded in part by $3.7-million from the National Center for Research Resources (NCCR). Completion is expected by year-end 2006.

Intel Corp. will construct a new $100-million facility at its R&D campus in Folsom, Calif. Completion is slated for late 2007.