Industry News

Caterpillar is investing $50 million to expand its manufacturing campus in West Fargo, N.D. The project includes construction of a 225,000-sf addition which will include an advanced metallurgy laboratory. Construction will begin in August of 2011 and the facility will become operational in June of 2012. Caterpillar will also begin building a 193,750-sf manufacturing facility in Xuzhou, China, in August of 2011; completion is expected in mid-2012.

Manchester College broke ground on the $20 million School of Pharmacy in August of 2011. Located in Fort Wayne, Ind., the 80,000-sf facility will feature technology-rich lecture halls, interaction and collaboration space, and advanced teaching and research labs. Completion is expected in summer of 2012. The project architect is Design Collaborative and the general contractor is Michael Kinder & Sons.

Phoebe Putney Health System broke ground on the $30 million Meredyth Gastrointestinal and Endoscopy Center in August of 2011 in Albany, Ga. The 85,000-sf outpatient facility is an expansion of Phoebe Putney's existing Meredyth Drive campus and is slated for occupancy in fall of 2012. The project team includes architect Page Southerland Page, general contractor Robins & Morton, and construction manager KLMK Group. 

Gilead is planning  to build a 192,054-sf research laboratory in Foster City, Calif. Existing buildings at the site will be demolished, with a start date for construction not yet set. The four-story facility is part of Gilead's planned 40-acre campus in Foster City, which could reach 1.2 million sf in 16 buildings at maximum buildout. The campus will include a pilot plant as well as office buildings, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities.

The University of Wisconsin-Superior dedicated the $32 million Swenson Hall in August of 2011. The 144,000-sf academic facility will house six departments and features a central three-story light well, flexible classrooms, faculty offices, and technology-rich labs.