Animal Research

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) dedicated its consolidated research laboratory at the National Centers for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa, in April of 2010. The $464 million facility includes the National Animal Disease Center, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and the Center for Veterinary Biologics. The 500,000-sf project provides administrative offices, labs, and animal housing space. Construction was completed in April of 2009.

Ohio State University broke ground in April of 2010 on a $22.2 million biocontainment laboratory in Wooster. The 27,000-sf Plant and Animal Agrosecurity Research (PAAR) Facility will house BSL-3 and BSL-3Ag laboratories. The facility will include suites for work on larger animals such as cows and pigs. Completion is expected in summer of 2012.

Advanced BioScience Laboratories is initiating a $10 million expansion of its vivarium in Rockville, Md. The completed project will provide 35,000-sf of animal research and housing space. Scheer Partners is providing site analysis, strategic planning, financing, construction and project management services for the expansion. Additionally, ABL is relocating its headquarters to a three-story, 72,000-sf facility in the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center in Rockville.

Idexx Laboratories initiated a $50 million expansion of its corporate headquarters in Westbrook, Maine, in April of 2010. The 200,000-sf administrative building will enable Idexx to consolidate 400 workers currently located in other Westbrook facilities. Idexx is a biotechnology company that specializes in pet care.

Vivo Bio Tech will construct a RM450 million animal research laboratory complex in Malaysia. Located in Alur Gajah, Malacca, the project will provide three laboratories for research on small animals, canines, and primates. The integrated complex will also provide development, testing, and manufacturing facilities. The project will be created in partnership with Malacca Biotech Holdings and Vanguard Creative Technologies.

Sanford Health is consolidating its medical research operations in Sioux Falls, S.D. The facility will open by June of 2010 upon completion of renovations to the existing structure, a former computer parts manufacturing plant. Housing laboratories and offices in two joined towers, the 300,000-sf complex will include a vivarium for animal research.

Rowan University is partnering with Cooper University Hospital to construct Cooper Medical School in Camden, N.J. Construction will begin by June of 2010 and reach completion in 2011. The 160,000-sf campus will house classrooms, laboratories, a library, offices, and a vivarium for animal research.

The University of Connecticut Health Center was awarded $7.9 million in March of 2010 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to renovate the Center for Laboratory Animal Care in Farmington. The project will provide modernized laboratories and care facilities for animal science instruction and research.

West Virginia University was awarded $14.5 million in stimulus funding in March of 2010 to build a biomedical research facility in Morgantown. Located adjacent to the existing Health Sciences Center, the 22,000-sf project will include modern animal housing space and biosafety laboratories.

Ground was broken in March of 2010 on the $200 million South Australian Health and Medical Research Facility in Adelaide. Designed by Woods Bagot with RFD (Research Facilities Design) as laboratory design consultant, the 280,000-gsf translational research facility will include 135,000 nsf of laboratory space, a molecular imaging therapy unit, a cyclotron, an imaging suite, and an animal facility.

Kansas State University was awarded $12 million in February of 2010 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to support research in zoonotic and animal disease defense. The grant will establish a Center of Excellence to develop vaccines, diagnostic methods, pandemic modeling tools, and educational programs.

Sinovac Biotech is establishing a five-building vaccine manufacturing campus in Beijing, China. The 32,323-sm project represents an investment of $17.6 million. Housing two production lines, filling and packaging, warehouse space, and a vivarium, the campus will produce vaccines for influenza and enterovirus 71. The facilities will be fully operational in 2012.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine was awarded $15 million in stimulus funding from the National Institutes of Health in February of 2010 to construct a 22,000-sf animal research laboratory in Phoenix. Housing 33 researchers and staff members, the underground facility will be located on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. The project will be built in partnership with Arizona State University and will include a vivarium for rats and mice. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.

The University of Washington will begin construction in July of 2010 on the $96 million Veterinary Medical Research Building in Pullman.  The 128,875-sf building will provide research facilities for at least 32 faculty members. Completion is expected in 2012.

The University of Louisiana opened its new animal research facility in Monroe in February of 2010. Providing research space for the College of Pharmacy, the $3 million facility houses mice and rats used in pharmacological and toxicological testing. The laboratory features 10 to 15 air changes per hour in the animal suites, automatic light timers, and a steam sterilization unit for equipment.