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Construction of New University of Illinois Research Park Under Way

Posted on: Thursday, 27 October 2005, 00:00 CDT

By The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Oct. 25--CHAMPAIGN -- Site work has started for a new 55,000-square-foot building in the University of Illinois Research Park.

The $7.5 million building, at 2021 S. First St., C, will be the southernmost building in the park. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy next June, but so far no tenant has been signed, said Andrea Ruedi, a consultant working for Fox Development.

The new predominantly brick building will have a "footprint" similar to two other Z-shaped buildings in the research park the Science Applications International Corp. building at 1901 S. First St. and the Strata Decision Technology building at 2001 S. First St.

But the new building will differ in appearance. For starters, the north portion will be two stories tall, while the south portion will have one story. The two wings will be connected by a central atrium with metal siding and a sloping roof.

The new building will be directly across a pond from the Strata Decision Technology building. Parking will be to the south of the new building, with major entries from the east and west.

Meanwhile, iCyt Visionary Bioscience plans to expand inside its building at 2100 S. Oak St. The company already occupies about one-quarter of the building. Tim Hoerr, iCyt's chief executive officer, said it's "highly likely" the company will have at least 5,000 square feet under construction this year and ready for occupancy in January.

Elsewhere in the research park, preparations are being made for a new park-and-ride facility. That facility would be on the east side of South First Street near Hazelwood Drive. As planned, the facility would include space for a child care center.

Three child care firms recently responded to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District's request for proposals for operating the child care center. The three are Bright Horizons, Knowledge Learning Corp. and La Petite Academy, said Karl Gnadt, the MTD's director of market development.

Gnadt said he's evaluating the proposals and hopes the board can decide by the end of November.

Of the eventual price of the building, Gnadt said, "I think right now I'd estimate a $4 million cost, but until we have the design and architectural layout, it's hard to have an order of magnitude."

To the north, Fox is preparing to move ahead with a hotel and restaurant proposed near the corner of St. Mary's Road and First Street. The timing depends on how quickly the University of Illinois moves ahead with plans for a conference center adjacent to the hotel.

"We'll try to mirror their timetable," Ruedi said. "We hope to break ground in April."

Ruedi said Fox has a technical services agreement with the Atlanta-based West Paces Hotel Group.

She said that group will assist Fox and the university in planning for selection of a facility operator by year's end.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

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Source: The News-Gazette

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