Research and Development

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.

The Jackson Laboratory is working with Boston-based Einhorn Yaffee Prescott in the design of a new Genetics Resource Building. In addition, the East Research Building will be expanded by 55,000 sf to accommodate offices, research labs, conference rooms, and support space.

 TherImmune is expanding near its headquarters in Gaithersburg. The company will move its lab services division into a 14,000-sf facility down the street in March 2002, and corporate offices will occupy 8,000 sf across the street, for a total of 90,000 sf occupied by TherImmune in Gaithersburg. TherImmune handles contract research and tests drugs for pharmaceutical and bioscience companies.

CryoLife Inc. has completed the build-out of its 7,500-sf facility for the manufacture of BioGlue, a surgical adhesive being commercially rolled out in domestic and overseas markets. The manufacturing facility is located at CryoLife's headquarters and labs in suburban Atlanta.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is proposing a new 52l,000-sf research facility and distance learning center for the Joint Institute for Computational Sciences and the Oak Ridge Center for Advanced Studies. The building’s design, completed by Harley Ellis of Detroit, Mich., includes a computer center lab; large lecture hall; specially equipped high-end distance learning center; four self-contained incubator suites for computer-based collaborations; four team suites for multi-disciplinary research.

ARAMARK today announced that it has completed the acquisition of ServiceMaster Management Services, the facility services business of ServiceMaster.

AstraZeneca R&D Boston will soon be adding 80,000 sf to its 170,000-sf office and infectious disease research facility in Boston. The company currently employs 250 at the site; the expansion will accommodate up to 420 over the next few years.

Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc. is moving its headquarters in fall 2001 to 45,000-sf in Watertown, Mass. Enanta utilizes peptide morphing to develop antiviral drugs and currently has 56 employees.