Corporate

Avista Development and McKinstry opened the $40 million Catalyst Building in Spokane in September of 2020. Designed by Michael Green Architecture, the five-story, 159,000-sf facility was built by Katerra using cross-laminated timber (CLT) structural components. Certified by the International Living Future Institute, the zero-carbon, net-zero building features a highly efficient heating and cooling system, a sophisticated building envelope, LED lighting, and integrated energy management technologies.

Kajima Corporation, one of Japan's largest construction companies, broke ground in August of 2020 on the $100 million Global Hub in Singapore. Designed to accelerate the creation of new building technologies, the 141,000-sf innovation center will feature a comprehensive robotic solutions suite. The Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTris) will be located in the facility, which will leverage advanced automation and digitalization systems to optimize energy performance and reduce carbon emissions.

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) launched the latest version of the WELL Building Standard in September of 2020. Following two years of extensive development, in-use application, and review, WELL v2 is a vehicle for buildings and organizations to deliver spaces that contribute to improved human health through design strategies, operational protocols, performance standards, and policies that foster a culture of well-being.

King Street Properties has fully leased a 214,440-sf research facility in Lexington, Mass., to four pharmaceutical companies. Designed by R E Dinneen Architects & Planners, the four-story building will offer leading-edge lab and office environments for biomedical research. JLL is the leasing agent for the development, which has yet to open. Tenants include:

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Toronto has partnered with leading infectious disease researchers and industry experts to create the HVAC Advisory Council. Aligned with BOMA Toronto’s Return to Work Committee, the task force will leverage insights on air quality, infection controls, and HVAC systems to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in commercial buildings.

JAC Construction and its sister company Level 3 Design Group are partnering with Industrial Commercial Systems and Ultraviolet Devices (UVDI) to bring an advanced UV-C air disinfection solution to commercial and hospitality markets. The program, StayProtected, is a comprehensive approach that combines leading technology with holistic methods to help prevent the airborne transmission of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

16 Tech Community Corporation opened the $50 million Innovation Building 1 in August of 2020 in Indianapolis. Developed by Browning, the 120,000-sf facility was constructed by Davis & Associates and is now fully leased. The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute is occupying 67,000 sf on the first three floors of the building. The five-story structure will accommodate the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, as well as providing 12,000 sf of research space for Indiana University's Center for Regenerative Medicine.

Lincoln Property Company broke ground in July of 2020 on a 140,000-sf life science building in Waltham, Mass. Designed by DiMella Shaffer in collaboration with AHA Consulting Engineers, the four-story structure will offer 35,000 sf of flexible and customizable office and laboratory space on each floor. A robust mechanical penthouse will support the installation of sophisticated infrastructure, and highly resilient energy and telecommunications services will be ensured by an onsite emergency power supply.

UC Davis Health will renovate an existing 194,000-sf facility to provide consolidated administrative space in Rancho Cordova, Calif. Designed by Stantec, the $48 million project will enhance efficiency for several operational groups by creating a central collaborative location. Offering flexible workstation environments, focus rooms, huddle areas, conference rooms, and gathering spaces, the building will accommodate employees working in human resources, finance, revenue, information technology, and executive leadership.

Songbird Life Science has launched a COVID-19 testing and health-protection service for facilities. Promoting public confidence in the occupancy of shared spaces, the company offers rapid onsite testing that provides results in minutes. 

Fitwel launched its Viral Response module in July of 2020. The platform provides annual, third-party building certification of policies and practices informed by the latest public health research on mitigating the spread of infectious diseases. Fitwel, a healthy building certification system operated by The Center for Active Design, was originally created by the U.S. General Services Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Atlassian, a leading Australian software development company, is planning to construct a 40-story headquarters tower in Sydney. Anchoring a new technology precinct, the project is expected to be the tallest hybrid timber building in the world when it opens in 2025. Designed by SHoP Architects and BVN Architecture, the zero-emission facility will utilize only renewable energy and is targeting a 50 percent reduction in embodied carbon and energy consumption as compared to a conventional structure.

Trammell Crow Company will break ground in July of 2020 on Fulton Labs in Chicago. Providing wet and dry research environments, the 16-story, 423,454-sf life science facility will offer column-free and long-span layouts as well as a dedicated innovation floor for early-stage companies. Designed for maximum flexibility and scalability, the 16-story structure will integrate advanced mechanical infrastructure to support advanced R&D enterprises, with all labs meeting VC-A vibration criteria to ensure reproducible research results.

Trinity College’s new Innovation Center, located on the third floor of One Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford, Conn., across from the school’s Liberal Arts Action Lab, is home to the academic/corporate partnership with InfoSys, a Digital Health CT accelerator, and new innovation and entrepreneurship programs for students. The open, flexible floor plan of the Common Area, which is open to all members of the Trinity community, gives occupants the freedom to reconfigure the space however they’d like. Other spaces include technology-enabled team huddle areas; an interactive work café with a variety of seating options, digital display, and writeable surfaces; enclosed meeting spaces; and small design studios.

The International WELL Building Institute launched the WELL Health-Safety Rating for all building and facility types in June of 2020. The evidence-based, third-party-verified rating system focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols, and design strategies for the post-COVID-19 environment.