Construction set to start next month on addition to support job-creation initiatives

By Monica Chen

mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636

DURHAM -- The N.C. Biotechnology Center is embarking on a $10.4 million addition to its headquarters in Research Triangle Park that will provide 20,000 square feet of new office and conference space.

The addition will support a number of new job-creation initiatives in biotechnology leadership, entrepreneurship, K-12 education, work force training, business development and university research programs. In addition, the expanded facility will continue to play host to an estimated 35,000 visitors annually, according to the Biotech Center.

The four-story structure will be the first addition to the center since founding in 1984. The original 47,000-square-foot center was built to house 50 employees. It's now pushing 65.

And the establishment of five regional centers has "really expanded the needs of the mothership," said spokesman Jim Shamp.

Construction is set to begin in October and is being managed by general contractor Skanska, which also built the Durham Performing Arts Center and various other structures in the Triangle. The addition is expected to be completed in fall 2010.

Since the Biotech 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 Norris Tolson, president and CEO of the center.

The state's biotech sector also grew 18.6 percent -- three times the national rate and five times the rate of the state's private sector, according to the Biotech Center.

"The industry contributes $45.8 billion to the state's economy each year, a testament to the investment this center leverages with state dollars," said Arthur Pappas, chairman of the Biotech Center's board of directors and managing partner of the venture capital firm Pappas Ventures.

"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."

Funding for the $10.4 million addition was partly funded by Biogen Idec, the Duke Energy Foundation, PPD and the Triangle University Center for Advanced Studies Inc.

The Biogen Idec Foundation's Transformational Grants in Science Education initiative gave $1 million for the construction.

Esther Alegria, vice president of manufacturing and general manager of the RTP site, said the donation was made to help the Biotech Center in promoting science literacy and supporting students pursuing science careers.

"These four walls, this roof, is going to provide for a center to expand science education," she said.

Charlotte architectural firm Perkins + Will, which designed the original building, drew up the plans for the addition. The expansion will carry a LEED Silver designation for green building.

Construction on the addition is expected to employ about 200 people.