by jbs012709 j3 — January 28, 2009—Battelle, the global nonprofit research and development organization, has announced it is investing more than $200 million in central Ohio (its home of 80 years) to add, construct, and renovate manufacturing, office, child care, and laboratory facilities in Columbus, Dublin, and West Jefferson.
The investment will reportedly create more than 200 new science and research jobs in the areas of energy technology, laboratory management, national security, and health and life sciences, and will have a total economic output in the region of more than $450 million. It will also enable many Ohio firms—from heating and cooling to architectural firms—to maintain and increase employment.
At its King Avenue campus Battelle is modernizing and renovating its offices and laboratories, incorporating new energy-efficient features and other green technologies. Many of the projects are being built to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and await certification.
Battelle also is expanding and upgrading its biomedical research facilities to strengthen its safety and efficacy evaluation capabilities of many products for a wide range of clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, as well as in a range of food products. A noticeable part of the investment to support growing staff needs is the new, 16,000-square foot Battelle Discovery Center, a day care and early education center for children of employees. Battelle also has moved to West Columbus and invested in a new armor assembly facility that was opened last year.
In West Jefferson, Battelle will construct a major state-of-the-art health and life sciences research laboratory slated for operation in 2011. This new facility will further expand Battelle’s capability and impact in biomedical research and development.
In Dublin, Battelle is planning to renew the lease and expand capabilities at its Blazer Parkway production facility to boost light manufacturing capacity and increase production of key electronic components used for energy efficiency, the medical community, and the US military forces.
