Industry News

Drexel University in Philadelphia has contracted Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates to design a new $30 million, 150,000-sf, five-story research building. 

Inktomi will lease space in the Wilson Cornerstone (now Equity Office) development currently under construction a mile from its Foster City headquarters. Construction began in March 2000 on the sleek 8-story 388,000-sf Parkside Towers which feature a large lobby and parking facility. Inktomi plans to move later this year.

Bedminster, N.J.-based Verizon Wireless plans to build a 175,000-sf network operations center in the Solana business complex in Southlake. The $20 million center is one of two centers (the other in Bedminster) that monitor and control the firm's nationwide network.  Employing 400 people in its first phase, the facility could potentially expand to 350,000 sf and accommodate 1,000 employees.

Xoma Ltd., a Berkeley-based biopharmaceutical firm, has planned a $25 million expansion of its existing protein-manufacturing factory. The larger facility will allow Xoma to accommodate more contract work from biotech companies.

Hale Manufacturing Company is planning to build an 80,000-sf facility on eight-plus acres near its present plant and offices in central New York State's Herkimer County. Completion is expected by late fall 2001. The company is a specialist in the design and manufacture of primarily solid wood and fine-wood veneer bookcases, and related wood storage cabinetry. The new facility will allow Hale to consolidate three present disparate sites into a single, larger one-story building with integrated manufacturing, finishing and shipping operations.