Industry News

Connetics Corp., a maker of acne and dermatological disease products, is relocating within the city of Palo Alto, Calif. from 53,000 sf at its current West Bayshore Road location to 96,000 sf in the Stanford Research Park. Connetics may also lease an additional 20,000 sf in an adjacent building at the site, which is the former headquarters of Incyte Corp. The move and subsequent renovations at the new location will double Connetics’ office and laboratory space.

Sandia/California National Laboratories dedicated the new Distributed Information Systems Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., on June 10, 2004. The 70,000-sf facility will enable high-speed information transfer between labs, particularly those with a focus on nuclear weapons research. The $37.9-laboratory will accommodate 130 researchers and include unclassified space where twenty to thirty visiting researchers can work with Sandia staff members. Sandia operates sites in both Livermore and Albuquerque.

Tokyo-based Toray Industries has completed construction of a 70,000-sf manufacturing plant in Decatur, Ala. Built by Doster Construction of Birmingham, the $25-million plant will produce Teflon fiber products used in DuPont fabrics, sealants, and non-stick cooking surfaces. Designed by Gresham Smith & Partners of Nashville, the facility is sited across the street from Toray’s existing $70-million, seven-year-old facility.

Thomas Built opened its new 275,000-sf bus manufacturing plant in south High Point, N.C. in early June 2004. Designed to make 44 school buses daily, the $39.7-million plant is already running at full capacity due to rising demand by school districts and is producing 60 buses a day.

Robert Morris University has selected Mosites Construction Co. of Robinson Township to build its new football stadium and athletic administration building in Moon Township, Pa. Joe Walton Stadium, featuring 3,000 seats, an artificial turf surface, and locker rooms for teams and officials, is expected to open in September 2005. The stadium will connect to a new 20,000-sf athletic administration facility. The project also includes an all-sports strength and conditioning room and academic tutoring and study rooms. Construction began on June 14, 2005.