The University of Canterbury will begin construction in mid-2014 on the $212 million Regional Science and Innovation Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. Providing technology-rich classrooms and laboratories to support progressive science pedagogies, the facility will accommodate a variety of learning modalities including small laboratory discovery groups, online instruction, and face-to-face teaching.
The University of Texas at Tyler will begin construction in spring of 2014 on the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy. The design team for the 60,000-sf facility includes SmithGroup JJR and Eubanks Harris Roberts Craig Architects. The project is funded in part by a $22 million donation. The University of Texas at Tyler is also planning to begin construction in 2014 on a $4 million addition to the Fine and Performing Arts Center as well as a new alumni house.
The University of North Carolina Wilmington dedicated the $30 million Marine Biotechnology Center of North Carolina (MARBIONC) in November of 2013. The 69,000-sf facility provides laboratories, offices, and conference rooms to support marine biotechnology research and development. Focus areas will include drug discovery based on compounds from marine organisms; detection technologies for both human-origin marine pollutants and biotoxins from microorganisms; algae farming for biofuels, and mariculture (marine aquaculture).
General Electric will begin construction in January of 2014 on the $110 million Oil and Gas Technology Center in Oklahoma City. Located adjacent to the University of Oklahoma Research Campus, the 95,000-sf facility will support collaborative R&D with academic partners to create innovative energy solutions. The new building is being designed by Miles Associates and is expected to house 130 employees. Occupancy is slated for spring of 2015.
Northeastern University will break ground in January of 2014 on a $225 million science and engineering research facility in Boston. The six-story, 220,000-sf building will provide open wet and dry labs, classrooms, faculty offices, a 280-seat auditorium, and an atrium. Designed by Payette, the interdisciplinary facility will house advanced instrumentation for shared use by the colleges of science, engineering, health sciences, and computer and information science. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.
Tata Memorial Centre has opened a cryogenic mouse embryo storage bank in Mumbai. Located at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), the facility will preserve valuable genetic strains of laboratory rodents to support biomedical research by the Laboratory Animal Facility (LAF). Cryopreservation enables the storage of biological material at extremely low temperatures for long periods of time. The LAF maintains 22 different strains of mice as well as two strains of hamsters, one strain of rats, and one rabbit strain.
Washington State University dedicated the $78.6 million Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences Building in December of 2013. Designed by NBBJ to foster interaction and collaboration, the 125,000-gsf facility provides open research and teaching labs, flexible classrooms, a 150-seat auditorium, and administrative and faculty offices. Located on the Riverpoint campus in Spokane, the building houses the College of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences and represents the first phase of a planned research complex.
The University of Cambridge is planning to build a new chemical engineering and biotechnology building in the United Kingdom. The $67 million facility will provide teaching and research space for the recently merged Department of Chemical Engineering and the Institute of Biotechnology. The project team includes architect BDP, general contractor Morgan Sindall, and mechanical and electrical contractor Shepherd Engineering Services. Completion is expected in June of 2015.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals broke ground on a 300,000-sf R&D facility in late October of 2013 in Westchester County, N.Y. The build-to-suit project is being developed by BioMed Realty Trust and is located at the 116-acre Landmark at Eastview campus. Upon completion in late 2015, the drug discovery lab facility will be leased by Regeneron for 15 years.
Auburn University dedicated the renovated Biological Engineering Research Laboratory (BERL) in November of 2013 in Auburn, Ala. The $6 million project provides AU's Department of Agriculture with new environmental rooms and technology-rich research labs for for chemical analysis, biomaterials characterization, and food engineering. Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, the renovation included the installation of upgraded infrastructure and building systems in the 22,800-sf facility.
Clemson University opened the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center in North Charleston in November of 2013. The facility is located on the Restoration Institute campus and will provide advanced wind turbine drivetrain testing capabilities. Developed in collaboration with industry partners including S.C. Electric & Gas Company, General Electric, Duke Energy, and Savannah River National Lab, the building houses the Duke Energy eGRID (Electrical Grid Research Innovation and Development) center which can simulate energy grid performance for any country in the world.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) opened the $25 million Science and Engineering Laboratory Building in fall of 2013. Designed by BSA LifeStructures in conjunction with Blackburn Architects, the collaborative 45,000-sf facility houses multidisciplinary research labs, classrooms for the School of Science and the School of Engineering and Technology, meeting rooms, and administrative space.
The University of Warwick is partnering with Jaguar Land Rover and Warwick Manufacturing Group to create the $160 million National Automotive Innovation Campus in Coventry in the United Kingdom. Housing over 900 staff from academia and industry, the 322,000-sf research facility will provide engineering labs, design studios, virtual reality suites, demonstration areas, and instructional space. Construction is expected to begin on the project in September of 2014.
Stony Brook University broke ground on the $194 million Medical and Research Translation (MART) building in November of 2013. The eight-story, 250,000-sf facility will accommodate up to 250 faculty members working in collaboration with physicians and medical professionals to develop advanced cancer treatments and medical imaging technologies. MART will provide 25 cancer biology labs, a 30-room cancer clinic, a 30-station clinical infusion center, a 300-seat auditorium, 12 classrooms, and conference rooms.
Monsanto broke ground in November of 2013 on a 400,000-sf expansion of its 210-acre campus in Chesterfield, Mo. The project includes the construction of a $140 million technology and research building, a $70 million conference center, and a $30 million parking garage topped by a $60 million greenhouse. Accommodating 675 investigators and staff, the expansion will provide 250 labs and plant growth chambers as well as 36 greenhouses for collaborative research in breeding, biotechnology, and agronomics.
