AMRI's new research & development facility dedicated by Governor Christine Gregoire

AMRI (NASDAQ:AMRI) executives were joined by Governor Christine Gregoire in dedicating the company’s new research & development facility located in Bothell, WA. The company leased 44,000 square feet at 22215 26^th Avenue SE with an option on an additional 40,000 square feet through Arden Realty, Inc. and invested approximately $8 million in fit-out costs and equipment.

AMRI performs contract research for companies globally. The site is set up to perform research involved in the discovery of new molecules that could become prescription drugs of the future and is equipped to provide custom, in vitro biological and analytical services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as academic institutions and medical research foundations. AMRI’s Bothell labs boasts one of the industry’s largest and most diverse collection of extracts of plant materials and marine and soil organisms collected from around the world. In addition to its existing complement of biological assay development, in vitro pharmacology and natural products capabilities, AMRI also added laboratories, resources and equipment to provide medicinal chemistry services at this location.

AMRI has been in Bothell since acquiring the former New Chemical Entities in 2001. The company consolidated its operations into this new facility from two buildings nearby in Bothell. AMRI had considered the possibility of relocating the facility outside of Washington State but the coordinated effort between state and local officials and the utilities that serve the area provided company executives with a compelling argument to stay put.

The project received support from the State of Washington, City of Bothell, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), Snohomish County Public Utility District (SnoPUD), and the Economic Development Council of Snohomish County.

The company received a $100,000 grant from the State of Washington to reimburse the company for expenses incurred in transferring equipment from the existing facilities in Bothell as well as a facility in New York, plus the addition of seismic control devices in the laboratories in the new building.

Puget Sound Energy awarded the company a grant for over $250,000 based on reduced natural gas usage for central HVAC equipment and other gas powered processes.

In addition, SnoPUD provided over $58,000 for upgrades that are expected to reduce the company’s total electricity use by almost 45 % annually.

Management of the project was led by Jones Lang and LaSalle with support from SAB Architects, McKinstry and Skanska USA.

The company is pursuing LEED certification for this building which would make it one of the few laboratory facilities in the U.S. to receive LEED certification from the Green Building Council.