Industry News

The University of New Mexico will break ground in 2006 on the 144,000-sf Centennial Engineering Center in Albuquerque. Entailing the demolition of Wagner Hall and Tapy Hall, the facility will house Civil, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, the Computer Science Department, Engineering Student Programs, Minority Student Programs, and the School of Engineering administrative offices.

Pfizer has selected Gilbane Building Company in a joint venture with Tarlton Corporation as the Construction Manager for Pfizer's new research facility in Chesterfield, Mo. The four-story, 330,000-sf facility is part of a nearly $200-million expansion of Pfizer's existing four-building site. Gilbane's Chicago office and Tarlton's St. Louis office will oversee the project with the design team of Kling Architects.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has initiated the second phase of construction on its 331,000-sf Genetic Medicine Building (GMB). The $120-million multidisciplinary research facility, comprised of seven stories plus a mechanical penthouse, has a deep footprint of approximately 40,000 sf of contiguous space. The GMB is designed around a central atrium that brings light into the entire building, even into the enclosed labs and offices through punched-out windows and open doors.

Indianapolis-based Guidant Corp. will expand its footprint in Temecula, Calif., with the construction of two buildings totaling approximately 300,000 sf. Housing personnel and operations for its growing stents and emerging technology programs, the two buildings and adjacent parking structure are expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2006. The facilities are slated for completion in late 2007. The product lines accommodated by the expansion include drug eluting stents, carotid artery stents, and bioabsorbable stents.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will dedicate its new 74,100-sf science building on April 7, 2006. The $21.8-million facility will house the chemistry and psychology departments and is part of the College of Arts & Sciences.