Boston biolab analysis fails fed review The new National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory, now 70% complete on the campus of Boston Univ., has not been adequately analyzed, according to a new federal review by the National Research Council. A previous National Institutes of Health analysis for the BSL-4 facility, one of two national bioterrorism labs funded by the NIH/NIAID, was scrutinized by independent scientists at the NRC. The analysts were critical of the NIH’s stated provisions to prevent lethal germs escaping from the facility, as well as its projections of impact on surrounding neighborhoods should a release occur. The council reviewed only the NIH analysis, not the plans for the lab itself. NIH director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni promises a thorough consideration of the NRC’s report, while opponents of the facility say it will give them ammunition in their ongoing quest to have construction blocked in court. Both state and federal courts have previously ruled that construction should continue but left open the possibility that some types of research might be disallowed pending further safety review. For more:www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12073.
GM grows in China General Motors has announced intentions to build two new wholly owned research facilities in Shanghai, focused on development of alternative fuels, advanced alternative energy propulsion systems, and manufacturer energy efficiency. The facilities will add to GM’s established research capabilities in Shanghai, where it already employees a team of 1,300 in cooperation with its Chinese joint venture, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC). The first phase, the GM Center for Advanced Science and Research, is due to be completed sometime next year; about $250 million is projected to be spent on the new research campus, including both offices and labs. For more: www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/business/worldbusiness/29cnd-auto.html.
Team, MIT duke it out over Stata The iconoclastic Stata Center at MIT—a $300 million facility for computer, information, and intelligence sciences that opened with great fanfare in 2004—is the subject of a lawsuit filed in a Boston court by MIT against design architect Frank Gehry’s firm, Gehry Partners, and builder Skanska USA. MIT says the 720,000-ft2 building, with its unconventional massing and wildly skewed walls, is leaky, and that efflorescence and mold are a problem on the brick exterior. The school also alleges that the adjacent outdoor amphitheatre is characterized by cracked masonry, efflorescence, and poor drainage. Sliding ice and snow are also said to be a problem. None of the parties are commenting officially, but Gehry has previously stated that these kinds of “fairly minor” issues are to be expected in such a complex building. Skanska says it’s committed to a resolution, and in the past has stated anonymously that it had warned Gehry about potential design flaws. The suit does not specify an amount for damages. For more:http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/071114gehry.asp.
Partnership will oversee green credentials The newly incorporated Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) has been established with the support of the US Green Building Council to administer credentialing programs related to sustainable building practice and standards. The GBCI will oversee continued development of the existing LEED AP program, and will undergo the ANSI accreditation process for personnel certification agencies, complying with ISO Standard 1704. The GBCI will also take over ongoing administration of the LEED AP program. For more:www.gbci.org.
Labs21 wins presidential award The Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) program of the EPA and DoE has received a 2007 Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in water and energy efficiency, use of new technologies and renewable energy sources, innovative strategies, and alternative financing. For more:www.labs21century.gov/links/news.htm. www.bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6501500.html.
New EB standard helps “green” existing buildings An updated version of LEED for Existing Buildings, now referred to as LEED-EB Operations and Maintenance, includes fewer program prerequisites, more emphasis on O&M, updated reference standards, and expanded sections on water efficiency, energy performance, building commissioning, and green cleaning. LEED-EB O&M is expected to launch next year after a public comment period ends. www.usgbc.org/leed/eb/.
