Industry News

Washington University broke ground in early October 2000 on the university's Uncas A. Whitaker Hall for Biomedical Engineering building, designed by Boston-based architects Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott. The new three-story facility will include a flexible laboratory wing comprised of 22,000 sf of wet lab space and 12,500 sf of procedure equipment and environmental areas (which will include a nanofabrication lab, vivarium, electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance suites). A three-story atrium will connect the laboratory wing with faculty office pods and classrooms.

Paradigm Genetics has completed construction of their new 53,000-sf plant genetic research lab and administration facility. The administration areas include moveable furniture partitions with power, UPS, data, flourescent and specialty lighting, conference areas and breakrooms. Lab and support areas include casework, hoods and environmental chambers, chillers, boilers, HVAC contrals, backup generator, UPS, data and specialized process equipment for plant growth/fungal research.

G.E. Medical Systems has a 283,500-sf, $40-million expansion under way at its Waukesha complex. A $30-million, three-story addition to the corporate headquarters building will provide 213,000 sf of office and manufacturing space. Completion is anticipated in December 2001.  The magnetic resonance building is undergoing a 69,500-sf, $10-million addition that will add two stories to the facility, which houses R&D and manufacturing operations. A manufacturing cleanroom will also be part of the expansion. General contractor for the project is M.A. Mortenson.

Inktomi, an Internet infrastructure company based in Foster City, plans to expand near their headquarters with a 381,000-sf two-building complex at the $132-million Parkside Tower development. The two eight-story buildings accommodate 17,400 sf of retail on the ground floor and two three-story parking structures. Completion of construction is anticipated in December 2001. The developer is Wilson Cornerstone.

Cyberfortress'@O'Hare, a 130,000-sf state-of-the-art Internet hosting facility being developed by DataCentersNow LLC, will be designed by RTKL Associates Inc.'s Applied Technology Group. RTKL will provide site planning, architecture, MEP, and all mission critical design for the facility to be located in Elk Grove Village. Clark Global Technologies of Bethesda, Md., a division of Clark Construction, will be responsible for construction of the facility. Completion is scheduled for May 2001.