UT Health Science Center at Houston Invests $161.5 Million for Construction of Research Park Complex

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Reported by Annette Kreuger, Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Construction is under way on the University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center at Houston's $161.5 million research park complex. Originally conceived as three free-standing buildings, the project was reconfigured as a single building that will be nearly 400,000 square feet (reference: Industrial Info's Pharmaceutical Tracker). The three programs to be housed within the complex include the Biomedical Research and Education Facility, the Dental Branch Replacement Facility and the Neuroscience Building, each occupying its own wing.

Designed by Houston's Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects, the building is rising on a 7.5 acre site on the corner of Cambridge Street and East Road within UT Research Park. The 100-acre park is a joint development of the UT Health Science Center and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The Park itself officially opened in March 2008.

The breakdown of each component of the RPC is as follows:

• Biomedical Research and Educational Facility--$41,100 million: 84,000 square feet of research (both dry and wet lab space) and support space with a particular focus on adult stem cell studies.
• Dental Branch Replacement Faclity--$90 million: 240,000 square feet of research, classroom, patient services and administrative spaces. This building will replace the current 52-year old building located on M. D. Anderson Boulevard.
• Neuroscience Building--$22.9 million: 69,000 square feet for faculty and staff of UT Medical School's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The building will replace the 45-year-old Mental Sciences building located on Moursund, purchased by M.D. Andersen for future development.

Hensel Phelps Construction (Houston, Texas) is handling construction of the Research Park Complex building, which is scheduled for a phased completion beginning in late 2010.

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