News
First steel erected for UB-Kaleida project
President John Simpson addresses guests and the media at an informal ceremony celebrating the setting of “first steel” for the new UB-Kaleida Health building. Also present (from left) are David Dunn and William Boden of UB, and James Kaskie of Kaleida Health. Photo: DOUGLAS HANES
-
Print -
Comments
-
“Today’s milestone signals that this collaborative project is one step closer to completion, which means our community is one step closer to better health care.”
Despite a difficult economy, state budget woes and the ever-challenging weather, construction of UB and Kaleida Health’s global vascular institute and research building is moving full speed ahead: On Friday, the two institutions ceremonially marked the first sequence of steel being raised and put into place.
Speaking at a news conference at the building site, James R. Kaskie, president and CEO of Kaleida Health, called the project “transformational” for the Western New York community, saying the largest construction project in decades serves as tangible progress that the local health care system is delivering on reform.
“Over the past six months, construction crews have worked diligently to prepare the site and get us ready for today with the first sequence of steel,” Kaskie said. “It is not only symbolic, but real progress. This is reform turning into meaningful action. Together, with the University at Buffalo, we are building a world-class flagship medical and research center right here in Western New York. It is a pivotal moment for both of our organizations, our community and, most importantly, the patients we serve.”
President John B. Simpson said the new building will improve health care in Western New York by linking education, clinical care, research and business incubation in one joint facility.
“Today’s milestone signals that this collaborative project is one step closer to completion, which means our community is one step closer to better health care,” Simpson said. “And the university is one step closer to achieving a major objective of the UB 2020 plan—expanding UB’s presence in downtown Buffalo. The public-private partnership formed by UB and Kaleida Health has enabled construction to continue, even in the face of severe state budget cuts,” he added.
The $291-million facility will bring Kaleida Health physicians and UB researchers together in a collaborative effort to deliver state-of-the-art clinical care, produce major breakthroughs in the causes and treatment of vascular disease, and spin off new biotechnology businesses and jobs. The building will house four floors of Kaleida’s $173-million merger of its cardiac, stroke and vascular operations, plus a new and expanded emergency department.
It also will house research-and-development facilities, including four floors for UB’s $118 million Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) and a UB Biosciences Incubator.
The CTRC will expand UB’s focus on translating basic medical research into new treatments and technologies made available for patients. The Biosciences Incubator will provide laboratories, office space and start-up services to companies spun off from UB medical discoveries. At full occupancy, 275 new UB employees are expected work in the building. According to studies on the economic effect of biomedicine and biotechnology research, the CTRC and Biosciences Incubator are projected to produce an annual economic impact of $68,750,000.
“Site-ready” work on the project, which involves preparing the location at Ellicott and Goodrich streets for full construction, is wrapping up. Workers have been installing steel piles and pile caps, and pouring concrete foundations and foundation walls, as well as relocating utilities.
Approximately $12.5 million has been spent on construction as of January, putting the project at nearly 8 percent completion. Construction, which began Sept. 1, is expected to take approximately two years, with doors opening in late 2011.
Turner Construction is serving as the construction manager for the project.
Reader Comments