Industry News

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is planning a $108.2 million building campaign that will include a $75 million, 160,000-sf science and biotechnology laboratory facility. The building is considered to be phase two of the $83 million, 221,440-sf Biotechnology Sciences and Engineering III facility which is slated for completion in September 2005. UTSA is also developing the $7.5 million West Campus which is comprised of 12,000-sf of new laboratory space.

Trinity University is nearing completion of its new 85,000-sf Northrup Hall facility. Housing classrooms, student services, and departmental and administrative offices, the $23-million building will become the centerpiece of the San Antonio campus. Construction began in July of 2002 and is slated for completion in February 2004. The four story facility was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and project team members Kell-Munoz Architects and Silber and Associates Consulting Engineers.

Freedom Forum ceremonially broke ground on the $400 million Newseum facility in Washington, D.C., on December 4. Actual construction will not begin on the 531,500-sf multimedia museum until early 2004, with completion expected in 2006. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects and developed by CarrAmerica Urban Development, the project will include office and retail space, a conference center, and 125 apartments.

Advanced Micro Devices, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is constructing a $2.4 billion 300mm chip manufacturing plant in Dresden, Germany. Volume production is expected to begin at the new facility in 2006.

Chapel Hill-based Synthon Pharmaceuticals will construct a $20 million pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Mebane, N.C., that will employ between 100 and 120 workers.