North Carolina Biotechnology Center establishes Research Triangle Park headquarters

To continue the state life science industry’s record-setting growth rate, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, with the help of statewide partners, is building an addition to its Research Triangle Park headquarters.

Construction on the $10.4 million addition was kick-started with a $1 million gift from the Biogen Idec Foundation’s Transformational Grants in Science Education initiative, and with leadership gifts from the Duke Energy Foundation, PPD and the Triangle University Center for Advanced Studies Inc.

“For twenty-five years, the state has invested in biotechnology research, education and business development through Biotechnology Center funding programs and collaborations,” said Robert A. Ingram, Vice Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline and chairman of the Center’s Building Committee.

“Leadership by the Center created a thriving industry with broader needs, and we are pleased to move forward with building the infrastructure to allow the Center to extend that leadership.”

From 2001 to 2006, the state’s biotechnology-based industry grew 18.6 percent – three times the national rate and five times the rate of the state’s private sector.

“Investing in expansion now is essential for the state to benefit from the projected high growth in life science research, development and job creation over the next ten years,” said Arthur M. Pappas, chairman of the Biotechnology Center’s board of directors and managing partner of the venture-capital firm Pappas Ventures.

Since the Biotechnology Center opened in 1984, the industry has grown from a handful of companies to more than 520 companies and almost 60,000 jobs with an average salary of more than $69,000.

“We have the potential to create an additional 65,000 to 70,000 jobs by 2020 as we develop new applications of biotechnology right here in North Carolina,” said E. Norris Tolson, president and chief executive officer of the Center.

The addition will support job-creation initiatives in biotechnology leadership, entrepreneurship, K-12 education, workforce training, business development and university research programs, in addition to welcoming an estimated 35,000 visitors annually.

The Center, through its building committee chaired by Ingram and co-chaired by former Gov. Jim Martin, is working to leverage the public and private funds for the expansion.

Construction of the four-story addition is being managed by general contractor SKANSKA, which expects to employ as many as 200 people in the project. The 20,000-square-foot building will be completed in the fall of 2010.

Charlotte architectural firm Perkins + Will created the plans for the addition. The expansion will carry a LEED Silver designation for excellence in sustainable design.

http://www.ncbiotech.org/