University of Michigan Moves to Head of the Class with Over $300 Million in Life Science Research Buildings Under Construction

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Historically, regarded as one of the nation's top research universities, The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) (U of M) is determined to expand upon that reputation with an ambitious construction program to boost their biomedical and science research facilities. There are currently three major projects in various degrees of construction at U of M, with a combined value of over $300 million.

The Biomedical Science Research Building
Cost: $220 million
Details: 420,000 square foot building that will feature flexible neuroscience, organogenesis, and other basic biomedical research laboratories for the U of M Medical School. Other features of the project include a 300-seat auditorium and an animal research facility.
Architect: Polshek Partnership (New York, New York)
Contractor: Gilbane Building Company (Providence, Rhode Island)/Clark Construction (Lansing, Michigan)
Estimated Completion Date: 4Q05 (PEC 18001544)

The Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building
Cost: $61 million
Details: Four-story, 140,000 square foot building that will accommodate teaching laboratories for the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and also provide interdisciplinary science instructional space and support. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), the Life Sciences, Values, and Society Program, and Neuroscience undergraduate and graduate programs will also have research laboratories and support space in the new building.
Architect: SmithGroup (Ann Arbor, Michigan) and Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Contractor: Barton Malow Company (Southfield, Michigan)
Estimated Completion Date: 4Q05 (PEC 18001687)

Center for Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (Biomedical Engineering Laboratory) Expansion
Cost: $20 million
Details: 38,000 square foot addition to the Department of Biomedical Engineering’s existing Advanced Technology Lab. The new building will provide biomedical (biomolecular and molecular) research laboratories and teaching space.
Architect: Zimmer Gunsul Franca (Portland, Oregon)
Contractor: Skanska USA Building (Farmington Hills, Michigan)
Estimated completion date: 4Q06 (PEC 18001756)

The campus construction activity is part of a bigger picture, as the entire state of Michigan has proclaimed their desire to become a major player in the Life Science sector. An intense collaboration between governmental, educational, and commercial entities has resulted in aggressive statewide support for investment in new facilities and the creation of additional training to supply qualified life science workers for future employment. Hoping to encourage new life science startup companies, the state of Michigan has established a “Life Sciences Corridor” that stretches across the entire Lower Peninsula.

Click the following link to view Industrialinfo.com's new 2004 North American Pharmaceutical-Biotech Forecast and the entire Pharmaceutical-Biotech Database for more details on this and numerous other projects.