New England to See Almost $1.5 Billion in Project Kickoffs for Fourth-Quarter 2015, Led by Manufacturing, Pharma

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The New England region is expected to see a slight increase in its total investment value (TIV) for projects set to begin construction in fourth-quarter 2015. The TIV stands at $1.44 billion, heavily influenced by the dramatic growth in Pennsylvania's Marcellus and Utica shales, which provides the area with an inexpensive feedstock. More than 85% of the total can be attributed to three industries: Industrial Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical & Biotech and Power.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing active projects scheduled to kick off in the fourth quarter of 2015 in New England by industry.

The New England region includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The Industrial Manufacturing Industry is in the lead with 16 projects worth $710 million scheduled to begin construction in the fourth quarter. However, the two largest projects are for passenger-rail systems and still are in the permitting phase: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's $449 million line extension and $167 million maintenance facility and storage yard expansion, both for its Green Line. Such rail projects often face lengthy delays due to trouble obtaining government funding, and can be pushed off for upward of a decade, if not cancelled outright. For details on these expansion projects, see Industrial Info's project reports for the line extension and line extension.

One of the largest non-rail projects is FedEx's (NYSE:FDX) (Memphis, Tennessee) $30 million construction of a distribution center in Stratford, Connecticut. The company plans to build a 225,000-square-foot building to boost capacity and enhance service for FedEx's ground network. For more information, see June 10, 2015, article - U.S., Canadian FedEx Distribution Centers on the Rise. For details on the construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Pharmaceutical & Biotech Industry is in second place with 14 projects worth $364 million set to kick off from October through December. One of the most anticipated is the University of Connecticut's $65 million renovation of a health center in Farmington, Connecticut. The second phase of a 238,000-square-foot renovation involves overhauling about 140,000 square feet to conform to LEED Silver standards, with an additional 28,000 square feet of incubator/laboratory space for start-ups. For details on the project, see Industrial Info's project report.

For more information on university research facilities, see August 27, 2015, article - Classes and Construction Planning Now in Session: Universities Continue to Invest Millions to Bolster Research Capacity .

The Power Industry has 13 projects worth $164 million scheduled to begin construction in the fourth quarter. The largest is International Power America Incorporated's $86 million power station upgrade in Bellingham, Massachusetts. The project involves upgrading two Alstom GT24B single-shaft combustion turbine generators, each with a capacity of 285 megawatts, and an Alstom heat-recovery steam generator. For details on the project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The six other highest-value projects in the region are:

• $90 Million: Tufts University's Research and Development Park in North Grafton, Massachusetts
  For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $60 Million: Royal DSM's Modernization and Expansion of Synthetic Resins Plant in Wilmington, Massachusetts
  For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $55 Million: Salem State University's Renovation and Expansion of Research Facility in Salem, Massachusetts
  For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $50 Million: Lonza Biologics Incorporated's Upfit at Biologics CMO Plant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $40 Million: Ardagh Group's Emission-Controls Addition at Glass Beer-Bottling Plant in Milford, Massachusetts
  For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $40 Million: LFB USA's Biosimilars Plant in Marlborough, Massachusetts
  For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.

Nearly three-quarters of the region's total investment value (TIV)--about $1.09 billion--is related to 31 projects that are now in the planning stages, where plenty of factors could increase, decrease or eliminate the expected spending. The region also has 11 projects worth about $214 million in the engineering stages, while 24 projects worth $134 million already have kicked off the first stage of construction and will kick off the next in the fourth quarter.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.