Research and Development

Abaco Systems is building a 40,000-sf engineering design center in Huntsville, Ala. Located in the Redstone Gateway development, the project will enable space in the company's' existing Memorial Parkway facility to accommodate expanded systems integration, assembly, and testing operations. Completion is expected in September of 2019. Headquartered in Huntsville, Abaco Systems is a global leader in open-architecture computing and electronic systems for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. 

Centennial College opened the CAD$72 million Downsview Campus Centre for Aerospace and Aviation in April of 2018 in Toronto. Designed by MJMA in association with Stantec, the project included the renovation of the historic de Havilland Aircraft building to provide classrooms, teaching labs, and research space for programs in aviation, aircraft maintenance, and aerospace manufacturing. The 137,000-sf facility is sited on four acres and includes a hangar capable of accommodating commercial jets.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell celebrated the reopening of Perry Hall in April of 2019. Providing teaching and research labs, classrooms, collaboration areas, and space for industry partnerships, the $50 million project included the redevelopment of 47,825 sf of interior space and the addition of 5,600 sf on the fourth floor, which now connects to Ball Hall.

San Jose State University broke ground in April of 2019 on the $181 million Interdisciplinary Science Building in San José, Calif. Designed by Flad Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the eight-story, 161,200-sf facility will provide state-of-the-art teaching and research labs, flexible learning environments, collaboration hubs, and administrative offices.

Arizona State University and Mayo Clinic broke ground on the $80 million Health Futures Center in Phoenix in April of 2019. Designed by CO Architects and DFDG Architecture, the 150,000-sf facility will feature a med-tech innovation accelerator, biomedical engineering and informatics research labs, and an innovative education zone.

Simon Fraser University opened the CAD$126 million Sustainable Energy Engineering building in April of 2019 in Surrey, British Columbia. Designed by Revery Architecture with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 220,200-sf facility will accommodate programs in renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, mechatronics, and clean power generation.

Auburn University will begin construction in summer of 2019 on the $22 million Advanced Structural Testing Laboratory in Auburn, Ala. The 41,500-sf facility will include a wind testing facility, a concrete materials research lab, a 4,700-cubic-foot geotechnical test chamber, and a high bay lab with floors and walls capable of handling extreme structural testing loads. Completion is expected in summer of 2020.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities opened the first phase of the Alexandria Center for AgTech in Research Triangle Park in April of 2019. Located in Durham, N.C., the project is a unique multi-tenant campus offering integrated research, development, and greenhouse facilities for agricultural science and technology companies.

The University of Wollongong is constructing the Molecular Horizons facility in New South Wales, Australia. Designed by Denton Corker Marshall in association with Jacobs, the AUD$80 million project will feature collaborative research laboratories housing leading-edge microscopy equipment including super-resolution optical microscopes and cryo-electron microscopes. The 75,000-sf structure is being constructed with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) in a suspended ferrous-free slab to mitigate electromagnetic interference.

The Center for Active Design will release Fitwel v2.1 in June of 2019. Promoting the creation of facilities that optimize health, Fitwel was developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Center for Active Design acting as its licensed operator. The updated version of Fitwel includes a new construction pathway for pre-occupancy and post-occupancy projects and now provides both a Design Certification and a Built Certification. Existing facilities will continue to be eligible for certification in the Built category.

Misericordia University broke ground in April of 2019 on a $45 million expansion of the Henry Science Center in Dallas Township, Pa. The three-story, 57,400-sf addition will provide classrooms, an electronics fabrication lab, a cadaver suite for the study of anatomy and physiology, and ten teaching labs for biology, chemistry, and physics. The project will also include a cold room for molecular physics experiments, an organic chemistry lab with a 300 megahertz NMR instrument, and vivarium space for small mammals, invertebrates, and aquatics.

The University of Michigan opened the $261 million Biological Science Building in April of 2019 in Ann Arbor. Designed by SmithGroup and Ennead Architects to accommodate 90 principal investigators and their teams, the interdisciplinary building offers 84 wet and dry research labs arranged in open neighborhoods for optimal flexibility.

Cambrex Corporation completed construction in April of 2019 on a $24 million facility for the manufacture of highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs) in Charles City, Iowa. The 6,000-sf project houses four reactors with capacities ranging from 200 to 1,000 gallons to accommodate batches from 50 to 300 kilograms. An existing small scale manufacturing area has also been reconfigured.

The University of Cincinnati opened the $68 million headquarters of the Gardner Neuroscience Institute in April of 2019. Integrating research, education, and outpatient care, the four-story, 114,000-sf facility houses four clinic modules with 14 exam rooms in each for optimal flexibility. The project also offers a 16-bay infusion department, procedure rooms, an imaging suite, an auditorium, a rehabilitation therapy center with an outdoor terrace, a patient lounge, a café, and an underground parking garage.

Pennsylvania State University dedicated the $144 million Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building in April of 2019 in University Park. Designed by HOK, the six-story, 194,100-sf (109,100-asf) facility houses classrooms, conference rooms, collaboration spaces, instrumentation suites, a student commons, a 150-seat auditorium, and open labs arranged in neighborhoods to promote interaction. Transparent glass walls in interior corridors put science on display and integrated magnetic whiteboards encourage students and faculty to share ideas.