Biocontainment

George Mason University dedicated its $42 million Biomedical Research Laboratory on June 11, 2010. Located on the Prince William campus in Manassas, Va., the facility is one of 13 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The 53,000-sf project houses 20,000 sf of laboratory space, including BSL-3 labs for biological threat and infectious disease research. The facility will be operated by George Mason University’s National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases (NCBID).

The University of Iowa is planning to construct a $1 million biocontainment training facility at the State Hygienic Laboratory in Coralville, Iowa. The learning laboratory will include a fully functional BSL-3 suite and instructional space. The State Hygienic Laboratory is located in the UI Research Park and was dedicated in May of 2010.

Colorado State University will build an imaging facility for the study of BSL-3 pathogens and select agents in Fort Collins. Located in the Judson M. Harper Research Complex, the facility will part of the Infectious Disease Research Center sited adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Regional Biocontainment Laboratory on the Foothills Campus. The project is supported by $6 million in federal stimulus funding and will support biomedical research using animal models. LEED certification will be sought for the facility.

The $55.5 million Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory opened in Regina on May 18, 2010. Located in the University of Regina’s Innovation Place research park, the secure facility provides CL3 laboratories for the study of infectious diseases. Designed by P3 Architects, the laboratory is constructed with robust HVAC systems, HEPA filtration, vibration isolation, and an effluent decontamination system. LEED certification will be sought for the laboratory, which features an advanced building envelope, automatic lighting, and rainwater harvesting.

Montana State University Bozeman will begin construction in November of 2010 on a $17 million renovation of Cooley Laboratory. Supported by $14.9 million in federal stimulus funding, the project will create a 31,000-sf research facility for the study of infectious and neurological diseases, select agents, and the application of laser physics to biomedical problems. The project architect is Architects Design Group of Kalispell, Mont. Completion is expected in fall of 2012.

Ohio State University is planning two research facility renovation projects in Columbus. Both projects are supported by federal stimulus funding and are slated for completion in 2014. An award of $8 million will support the buildout of 24,000 asf in the Biomedical Research Tower to accommodate the Experimental Therapeutics Program of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Colorado State University (CSU) opened the $53 million Research Innovation Center in Fort Collins in May of 2010. Located on CSU’s Foothills campus, the 72,000-sf facility will support accelerated development of vaccines and therapeutics by co-locating researchers and private industry tenants. The two-story building houses biosafety facilities, wet laboratories, offices, conference rooms, and a vivarium for rodents.

Emory University is partnering with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to construct the $90 million Health Sciences Research Building in Atlanta. The planned 190,000-sf facility will support translational research, including pediatric research, cancer research, and drug discovery. The building program will include modern wet and dry laboratories, a BSL-3 laboratory, an auditorium, support spaces, and formal and informal collaboration spaces. A minimum of LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.

The University of Iowa dedicated the State Hygienic Laboratory on May 5, 2010. The $38 million facility is located in the University of Iowa Research Park in Coralville. The building features an open lab plan to maximize researcher collaboration. The LEED-certified facility supports detection and response for environmental contaminants and infectious diseases.

HR 5057, the Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010, was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on April 15, 2010. The legislation promotes the registration of all BSL-3 laboratories, harmonization of oversight, and simultaneous facility inspections. $50 million in grants for strengthening biosecurity infrastructure would also be made available.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center will begin construction in 2011 on a $10.7 million renovation of its cancer research building in Omaha. The facility will house biomedical and biodefense research and is slated for completion in June of 2012. The project is supported by $8 million in federal stimulus funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health opened its expanded veterinary vaccine manufacturing plant in April of 2010. Located in the Netherlands at Biosciences Center Boxmeer, the $22 million project increased production space for bacterial vaccines from 1,500 sm to over 5,500 sm. The cGMP facility includes fermentors, cleanrooms, and biocontainment suites. Construction began on the project in December of 2007.

Cobb-Vantress is constructing a $1.8 million laboratory at its headquarters in Siloam Springs. Accommodating disease diagnostics and biotechnology research, the 5,000-sf facility will utilize molecular scanning equipment to analyze samples. Occupancy is expected in early 2011. The sustainably-designed facility will feature advanced HVAC and building insulation systems. Cobb-Vantress is a poultry producer and supplier.

Universiti Malaya opened its Modular Biosafety Level 3 Research Facility in April of 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The RM10 million laboratory houses facilities for the detection and study of infectious tropical diseases like dengue fever. The facility is located at the university’s Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre and will support vaccine development and commercialization of biomedical discoveries.

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.