Research and Development

St. Cloud State University will begin construction in November of 2011 on the Integrated Science and Engineering Laboratory Facility (ISELF) in St. Cloud, Minn. Designed by Rafferty Rafferty Tollefson Lindeke Architects of St. Paul, the $44.8 million project is slated for completion in summer of 2013. The construction manager is McGough of Roseville, Minn. The flexible, interdisciplinary teaching and research facility will support programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medical technology, and radiology.

Wayne State University opened the A. Paul Schaap Chemistry Building and Lecture Hall in Detroit in September of 2011. The $76 million expansion was developed in two phases. Creating 96,000 sf of open plan lab space, the project included construction of a four-story glass atrium, offices, and a technology-rich lecture hall. The facility was designed and engineered by Harley Ellis Devereaux with DeMaria Building Co. as general contractor.

Isis Pharmaceuticals opened its new 176,000-sf research facility in September of 2011 in Carlsbad, Calif. Supporting a collaborative approach to drug discovery and development, the project will enable Isis to consolidate the majority of its operations in a single location. BioMed Realty Trust began building the facility in June of 2010. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

The University of Utah broke ground on the $22 million Thatcher Building for Biological and Biophysical Chemistry in September of 2011 in Salt Lake City. The five-story, 41,000-sf facility will house teaching labs, organic and biochemical synthesis labs, and mass spectrometers for chemical analysis. The facility was designed by VCBO Architects and the general contractor is Okland Construction. Occupancy is expected in spring of 2013.

Merck opened a $135 million pharmaceutical R&D facility in Ballydine, Ireland, in September of 2011. Construction began on the project in 2007. Merck will also invest $200 million to expand production operations at its Grange Castle biotechnology center in Clondalkin.

The University of Albany is building a 191,000-sf energy research facility for the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. The project will house the U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium, a center supported by $60 million in federal funds. The facility will also include a 25,000-sf cleanroom for pilot solar cell manufacturing and research. The project was designed by EYP Architecture and Engineering. Two additional buildings totaling 300,000 sf will be built in a second phase of construction. 

The University of Saskatchewan opened the $140 million International Vaccine Center (InterVac) in Saskatoon in September of 2011. Designed by Smith Carter of Winnipeg, the 145,000-sf facility houses BSL-3 containment laboratories for infectious disease and vaccine research. Commissioning is expected to reach completion within five months and occupancy is expected in spring of 2012. InterVac will support research on pathogens including avian flu, SARS, West Nile virus, bovine tuberculosis, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Construction on the Tri-Service Research Laboratory was completed in San Antonio in September of 2011. Located at Fort Sam Houston, the $70 million, design-build facility will support health and safety research for the Navy, Air Force, and Army. Housing laser research labs and anechoic chambers, the 181,000-sf project will accommodate studies on the biological effects of directed energy devices. The project team includes Jacobs Engineering, Skanska USA Building, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Battelle opened the $200 million Center for Life Sciences in September of 2011 in Jefferson, Ohio. The 220,000-sf facility will support research in public health, environmental services, and commercial healthcare. The project also provides support space for systems including laboratory information management, environmental monitoring, telemetry, and test-article storage. The Center for Life Sciences will house 150 employees.

The Wistar Institute broke ground in September of 2011 on a $100 million biomedical research tower in Philadelphia. The seven-story, 89,700-sf facility will house five floors of research labs as well as meeting space and an auditorium. Designed by Ballinger, the project includes demolition of less than one third of Wistar’s existing 103,750-sf cancer research building and vivarium. 

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is building the Voelte-Keegan Nanoscience Metrology Facility (NMF). The 32,000-sf facility will provide a temperature-stabilized research environment with minimized vibration and electromagnetic fields. The NMF will include a nanofabrication cleanroom, a materials preparation facility, and laboratories for nanofiber characterization, manufacturing metrology, and nanophotonics.

Medicago opened its $32 million Vaccine Research and Production Facility in September of 2011. Located in Research Triangle Park, the 97,000-sf project will support commercial grade production of influenza vaccines using VLP (virus-like particle) plant-based manufacturing technology. The general contractor, KBR Building Group, was awarded a $19 million contract to build the facility in November of 2010. The plant can produce 10 million doses per month and can increase production within three months to respond to an influenza pandemic. 

NanoViricides is expanding in West Haven, Conn., with the acquisition of an 18,000-sf facility. The building will house laboratories and a cGMP pilot plant for production of nanoviricide pharmaceutical candidates for clinical trials. NanoViricides is engaged in creating anti-viral drugs for H1N1, H5N1, seasonal influenza, hepatitis, rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola. 

Analog Devices will construct a $68.3 million research and development facility in Raheen, Ireland. Built adjacent to Analog's existing manufacturing center, the two-story, 140,000-sf facility will house engineering labs, offices, and meeting rooms to accommodate 100 employees. Analog Devices is a semiconductor manufacturer based in Boston.

Bridgewater State University opened the first phase of the newly expanded and renovated Science and Mathematics Center in September of 2011. Designed by Payette, the five-story, 168,000-sf facility will provide space for the departments of biology, chemistry, earth science, geography, physics, math, and computer science. The project team includes R.G.