Immunex Builds New $750 Million Biopharmaceutical Complex In Seattle, Washington

---

Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Inc; Houston, Texas). The Immunex Corporation's (NASDAQ: IMNX) (Seattle, Wash.) massive construction project known as the Helix project, derived from the name of the double helix structure of DNA, is now well under construction after a ceremonial groundbreaking in January 2001. The Helix project is the first phase of what will eventually be multiple buildings with over 2.3 million square feet to house biopharmaceutical research and development laboratories plus administration offices for 2,500 employees. Immunex assembled a design and construction team including the following firms: Affiliated Engineers, Inc (Mechanical, Electrical, Piping and IT), Flad & Associates (Executive and Lab Architect), Koetter, Kim & Associates, Inc. (Design Architect), KPFF Consulting Engineers (Civil and Structural), NDBBJ (Interior Architect) and Sordoni Skanska Construction Company as Construction Managers.

Destined to become the biopharmaceutical company's new world headquarters and research center, the project is being constructed on 29 acres just north of downtown Seattle. Faced with initial resistance from local citizen groups that feared possible loss of scenic views and traffic congestion, Immunex addressed these issues in innovative ways including a public pedestrian bridge over the site's railroad tracks with waterfront access and having the buildings roofscaped to contain mechanical equipment and thus providing a more pleasing aesthetic view. The Helix Project's proposed completion is scheduled for winter of 2003.

The Immunex Corporation was founded in 1981. The biopharmaceutical company focuses on immune system science innovations, with EMBREL, their rheumatoid arthritis therapy, adding heavily to their 2000 revenues of $861.8 million and a net income of $154.4 million.