Research and Development

Cerilliant Corp., a provider of chemical services and samples, is expanding its operations with a move to Round Rock, Texas, from Austin. Currently housed in a cramped 12,000 sf, Cerilliant will occupy 32,000 sf of the 40,000-sf AmorRon 3 building. Slated for late April, the move will involve substantial improvements including construction of an extensive laboratory facility. The relocation was prompted by a need for more space to accommodate current and projected company growth.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, based in Chevy Chase, Md., has selected Rafael Vinoly Architects of New York to design its planned $500-million Loudon County research campus at Janelia Farm. The 750,000-sf project will accommodate research labs, conference facilities, and will provide more than 100 visitors with dormitory housing. Scientific staff at the complex is expected to reach 200. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2003, with completion in early 2006.

Incyte Genomics Inc., based in Palo Alto, Calif., will move into 53,100 sf at DuPont’s Stine-Haskell Research Center in Newark while the biotech company searches for a permanent East Coast facility for its therapeutic discovery and development work. Incyte hopes to secure approximately 90,000 sf of research, lab, and office space to accommodate 140 R&D staff in the next two years, and a total of 200 employees by 2005. Biotech and pharmaceutical companies, as well as research and academic institutions, use Incyte’s genomics technologies and products.

Amgen, based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is considering locations in Research Triangle Park for a new $500-million, 250,000-sf facility. The project would include at least 250,000 sf for biological manufacturing, clinical, and development operations. The biotech company is expanding at its other locations as well. A 92,000-sf research center opened in Cambridge, Mass., late last year; two drug R&D buildings and a parking garage are being added in Thousand Oaks; and the company plans to expand manufacturing at its 232-acre site in Longmont, Colo.

Lockheed-Martin plans to occupy at least two buildings at a new four-building office park under construction in Mount Laurel. The developer of the 400,000-sf complex is Whitesell Construction Co. Inc. of Delran, Penn.

Kosan Biosciences may lease a two-story, 85,000-sf facility in San Francisco's Mission Bay. Developed by Catellus Development, the building stands adjacent to new University of California San Francisco facilities. Kosan, a Hayward, Calif.-based biotech firm that is alternately considering remaining in Hayward, has nearly 100 employees and a cancer compound in early clinical trials. Construction on the Mission Bay facility will begin in July 2002 if the lease is signed.

The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center is seeking up to 150,000 sf in San Francisco for its new home. The Emeryville, Calif.-based clinic has considered Catellus Development's Mission Bay and some south of Market locations. Proximity to research and funding collaborator UCSF is a factor in the possible relocation to San Francisco. The Gallo Clinic performs research in neuroscience, cell biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, and biochemistry, seeking genetic keys and therapies for alcohol and drug abuse.

Simeon Properties is planning to redevelop the 86-acre former Zenica site in Richmond, Calif., to build the $100 million Western Research Center, a multi-phase biotech incubator. The first $50-million, 330,000-sf phase will involve demolishing six buildings, moving two existing buildings and building two additional facilities. The second phase will encompass 180,000 sf in two more buildings. A possible third phase, dependent on an entitlement from the City of Richmond and environmental remediation, would open up the remaining 55 acres.

Bayer is considering both Research Triangle Park and Kansas City, Mo., as potential expansion locations. RTP has offered the merged operations of Bayer and Aventis CropScience a strong package to locate its American headquarters in the Triangle. Bayer currently has manufacturing and toxicology facilities in Kansas City and employs 1300 workers in those facilities and in facilities across the Missouri River in Stilwell and Shawnee, Kan. The efficiency of having all functions centrally located in Kansas City could affect Bayer's decision.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plans to move 800 employees into a new five-story building under construction at the Renaissance Corporate Center, a 250-acre office park in Gulph Mills. Liberty Property Trust is building the $40-million, 200,000-sf build-to-suit, which is located across the street from the company’s other research and office operations. GSK is also considering expansion at its Upper Merion, Penn., location.

Cell Genesys, based in Foster City, Calif., plans to develop a 35,000-sf manufacturing facility in Memphis for the production of the GVAX cancer vaccine. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2002.  The company also plans to relocate its headquarters from Foster City to a new 280,000-sf facility in South San Francisco. In addition, a $60-million, 41,000-sf manufacturing plant is under construction in Hayward, Calif.

Rib-X Pharmaceuticals is planning a new 26,400-sf lab and office facility at New Haven’s 300 George Biotech Laboratory complex. Jung/Brannen Associates, based in Boston, has completed architectural design for the structure, which will accommodate research, a computational chemistry lab, facilities for wet-lab chemistry, and administrative offices.

Opexa Pharmaceuticals has selected PageSoutherlandPage Architects, Engineers, and Consultants of Houston to provide architecture, engineering, commissioning, and validation support services for Opexa’s new manufacturing facility. The 27,000-sf structure will include corporate offices and a new production facility to manufacture pharmaceuticals for autoimmune diseases, focusing on multiple sclerosis.

Abbot Labs, based in Illinois, is proposing to build a West Coast R&D headquarters at the former 35-acre Cargill Salt site in Redwood City. The site is adjacent to Perclose, the medical device manufacturer recently purchased by Abbott. Phase I of the one-million-sf project would accommodate approximately 500 employees in 250,000 sf of lab and office space, where the pharmaceutical and diagnostic company will expand its cardiac product line. By the end of 2002, Abbott anticipates completion of the planning, design, and review of the project.

 Integrated Laboratory Services, based in Raleigh, N.C., plans to occupy a 77,395-sf R&D and office facility'Tech 15'under construction at Keystone Park. The $7-million building is scheduled for completion in March 2002. Ten more buildings are planned for the Park, with construction of the second building scheduled to begin late in summer 2002. Keystone Corp. is the developer of the $65-million project, which is scheduled for completion in 2004.