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Clemson University and the South Carolina Research Authority plan to begin construction in March on the long-awaited incubator and Innovation Center at the Advanced Materials Center in Anderson. The two partners broke ground on the project in June 2008.
GSA Daily Staff Report
Published Feb. 26, 2010
Clemson University and the South Carolina Research Authority plan to begin construction in March on the long-awaited incubator and Innovation Center at the Advanced Materials Center in Anderson.
Harper Corp. of Greenville is the design/build contractor on the 43,000-square-foot project, with Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, Inc., serving as architect of record. GM&C, which also will handle civil engineering, landscape architecture, interior design and geotechnical engineering for the site, said it is designing the building to be LEED Silver Certified.
Construction is expected to be complete in early 2011.
Clemson’s portion of the center will include about 25,000-square-feet of space that will provide support to start-up companies or “landing parties” associated with Clemson research in advanced materials.
"The knowledge generated by faculty and students is not intended to remain within the confines of the university," said Christian Przirembel, Clemson’s vice president for research and economic development. "Providing office and laboratory space for fledgling companies that want to start businesses and create jobs based on university discoveries is an exciting prospect. We look forward to creating an environment that nurtures new business for South Carolina, particularly in advanced materials where we know there is great opportunity for growth."
Additionally, the site will be home to the SCRA’s third innovation center. The SCRA opened an innovation center in Charleston with the Medical University of South Carolina and is nearing completion of its center in Columbia with the University of South Carolina at Innovista.
At the Anderson site, the SCRA will house secure research in approximately 18,000 square feet.
The center also will have a common area for collaboration.
“This is one of three world-class facilities that SCRA is providing with its university partners in South Carolina to grow the knowledge economy,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “With these centers, SCRA is fulfilling legislative mandates identified in the Innovation Centers Act focused on commercialization of new knowledge-based discoveries, using SCRA company-retained earnings instead of state taxpayer money.”
The innovation center complex was funded through a public-private partnership that includes Advance SC, the Duke Energy Foundation, federal agencies and South Carolina Research Infrastructure Act funds, in addition to Clemson and SCRA.
Innovate Anderson, a public-private economic development organization formed by Anderson County, the city of Anderson, the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce and private businesses have been partners in the development of the Advanced Materials Center as well.
Clemson and the SCRA broke ground on the facility in June 2008 but were unable to proceed with construction because of funding constraints. But last summer, the state concluded a bond offering that included $5 million for Clemson’s incubator.
The SCRA is investing $4.5 million in its portion of the site.
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