DURHAM, NC – Skanska, a leading global development and construction firm, has reached a major milestone with the topping out of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville, Virginia. This significant milestone represents the installation of 3,739 tons of structural steel and over 160,000 worker hours dedicated to the project to date.
Upon completion, the state-of-the-art $350 million facility will span 355,809 square feet across five-stories and provide modern, flexible laboratory space, expanded research and core capabilities as well as an area for researchers and partnering biotechnology companies. Located in Fontaine Research Park, the advanced laboratory and research space at the Manning Institute of Biotechnology will offer amenities for the broader community including a café and conference center to encourage collaboration among researchers.
“It’s a privilege to once again partner with the University of Virginia, this time on the Paul and Diane Manning Institute, said Mark Balling, executive vice president of Skanska USA Building’s Mid-Atlantic region. “This world-class biotechnology facility is an investment in life sciences innovation and capabilities that will shape the future of research and discovery throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.”
The Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology construction represents a transformative milestone that will position the University of Virginia at the forefront of cellular therapy, gene therapy, nanotechnology, and targeted drug delivery research. The Institute will focus on the research, development, commercialization and manufacturing of new cellular, gene, and immunotherapies. The facility is projected to generate hundreds of jobs directly and potentially thousands indirectly by attracting pharmaceutical and biotech companies to create a new ecosystem of innovation at UVA.
Construction began in December 2023 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Skanska currently has more than $1 billion worth of projects in progress in its Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina.