Industry News

The University of Idaho opened the $53 million Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC) on its Moscow campus in January of 2017. Designed by NBBJ, the collaborative 70,000-sf project features flexible laboratories for interdisciplinary research, an advanced visualization suite, offices, conference rooms, and core labs with shared equipment. Hoffman Construction Company broke ground on the facility in August of 2014. LEED Gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

West-Ward Pharmaceuticals is initiating an expansion of its manufacturing plant in Obetz, Ohio. A two-story, 30,000-sf addition will accommodate the production of medication tablets, with 65 new technicians to be employed at the site by 2020. The expansion will support the manufacture of generic drugs for parent company Hikma Pharmaceuticals and is slated for completion in May of 2018. A 276,000-sf distribution facility will also be constructed at the campus.

The University of South Florida is planning to build a $153 million facility to house the Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in Tampa. Designed by HOK, the 320,000-sf project will provide laboratories, learning spaces, conference rooms, faculty offices, an auditorium, and a clinical trials unit. The construction manager is Skanska USA Building and completion is expected in late 2019.

Brigham Young University-Idaho dedicated the 108,000-sf Science and Technology Building in February of 2017 in Rexburg. Designed by CRSA of Salt Lake City, the three-story facility provides classrooms, multifunctional laboratories, and faculty offices for the Departments of Animal and Food Science, Applied Plant Science, Computer Information Technology, and Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Illuminated by abundant natural light, the project will feature collaborative areas for student projects.

Central Michigan University opened the $95 million Biosciences Building in January of 2017 in Mount Pleasant. Designed by Stantec to promote interaction and collaboration, the four-story, 169,000-sf facility provides teaching labs, research labs, lecture halls, an active learning classroom, an auditorium, and faculty offices. The building also includes a BSL-3 suite, an herbarium, an imaging center, and an aquatic research vivarium. Clark Construction began work on the project in September of 2014.