Industry News

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a defense contractor, has plans to consolidate its operations in 222,159 sf at a build-to-suit in Alexandria's Mark Center. IDA currentlly occupies two buildings at the site. The new 260,000-sf building, slated for completion in February 2002, was designed by Davis Carter Scott and is being developed by Mark Winkler Co.

Asyst Technologies has plans for a build-to-suit $90 million, 350,000-sf multiple-building headquarters at a 27-acre site in Fremont. Asyst will consolidate its 1000 employees, now housed in six different offices, at the Warm Springs Corporate Center, where the first phase of construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2000. The first building is slated for completion in fall 2001. One 180,000-sf building will accommodate manufacturing. The site provides for future expansion of up to 600,000 sf of space. Trumark Commercial LLC is the developer.

Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp., based in San Diego, received approval in August from the City of Oceanside to build a full-scale manufacturing plant there. An incentive for Idec to locate in Oceanside was the city’s agreement to build a $1.2-million “brine line” that will funnel wastewater from the Idec plant to the ocean. The $1.25-billion project will be built in three phases at the Ocean Ranch Corporate Center. Phase one will be a 362,000-sf manufacturing and R&D facility, with completion anticipated in July 2003.

Teradyne, based in Boston, will expand manufacturing and engineering for its industrial consumer division when it occupies a 232,000-sf, one-story facility in Woburn previously owned by Digital Equipment Corp. of Cambridge. The building will be extensively refurbished, with occupancy scheduled for December 2000. The semiconductor company is also breaking ground at a 38-acre site in North Reading on the third building of a four-building complex there.

Mount Holyoke College, as part of its new master plan, will transform its 19th-century gymnasium building into the campus hub for student life. Miller Dyer Spears, based in Boston, is designing the three-story Blanchard Campus Center. While preserving the historic character of the structure, a coffee bar, cybercafe, gameroom, art gallery, college store, mailroom, info center, and student lounges will be featured on the main level. A two-story addition will expand dining capacity to 350 seats and will double as a large performance and events space.