Industry News

The University of Michigan is building the $96-million, 235,000-gsf Life Sciences Institute comprised of six floors and a mechanical penthouse. Part of the of Palmer Drive Development, the facility will house the newly created Life Sciences Institute, established to enhance education, basic research and translational research in the life sciences. The Life Sciences Institute will house 150,000 nsf of wet research labs, lab support, core lab areas, principal investigator offices, interaction spaces, administrative offices, a combined gallery/lobby space, and a small library.

San Diego City College and Hewlett Packard are developing a $100,000 wireless mobile classroom. The computer lab will house 35 Hewlett Packard notebook computers, a combined printer-scanner-copier-fax machine and a digital camera.

Synygy, an employee benefits compensation programming and software company, has commissioned Syska Hennessy Group to design new mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems as well as the acoustics, audiovisual, telecommunications, and lighting for a new corporate headquarters. The 163,500-sf tenant fit-out projects is being undertaken in the historically significant Chester Station in Chester, Pa. The building is one of the best-preserved and most monumental early power plants in the U.S. dating back to 1917.

A plan for the World Trade Center including healthcare and biotechnology research facilities has been proposed by KMD Architects, a San Francisco firm with offices in New York. The plan also features a research tower, a 70-story hotel/office tower, and a separate 60-story student housing tower. Adjacent low rise buildings would house university satellite campuses including 5,000 residential units. The complex would include a performing arts center, open space, and memorials throughout the development.

Rutgers University is planning to expand its law school with the construction of a $20-million, 50,000-sf facility in the next three years. The building will be sited on a 2.2-acre surface parking lot adjacent to the existing 95,000-sf law school building. Rutgers is also moving to acquire Camden's Plaza Hotel to convert it into up to 250 graduate student housing apartments. The project will include ground level retail and will be launched in the next three years.