NOVI, Mich., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A biotech start-up company, Molecular Innovations, Inc., broke ground Wednesday on its first wholly-owned state-of- the-art research and development laboratory and production space, it was announced today.
The 12,600 square-foot facility, located in a Novi technology park, is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2007. About 100 people, including Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, joined President & CEO Duane E. Day for the traditional earth moving ceremony.
“This is truly a dream come true,” said Day, who built the company from scratch and housed the once fledgling business in his garage. “To have our own facility designed and built to our custom specifications to further our scientific research and expand our product offerings is simply fantastic.
“This facility is at the cutting edge and symbolic of Mr. Patterson’s vision of emerging sectors companies like Molecular creating a stronger biotechnology presence in Michigan,” said Day. “I am grateful to Oakland County, the State of Michigan, our loyal customers and dedicated employees for helping to make this day a reality.”
Other dignitaries attending the event included: Senator Nancy Cassis; Michigan House Speaker Craig DeRoche; and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who could not attend due to schedule conflicts, but did send an aide and a congratulatory note to Day honoring the company’s investment in Michigan.
The contemporary building, designed by Synergy Group, Inc. of Bloomfield Hills, features unique lab space custom designed to meet the research, business and operational needs of a biotech company that produces proteins for academic, institutional and commercial pharmaceutical uses. The company also does research on gene cloning of cells.
The state-of-the-art lab building will include: * Offices comprised of approximately 4,000 s.f. * 1 Protein Chemistry Production Lab * 1 Molecular Biology lab/clean room * 2 Cold Rooms (storage) * Fitness Center/Showers/Lockers
Building features include multiple private offices. The facility features a lunch room and lounge, fitness center, lobby, storage and an enclosed truck dock for shipping and receiving. The building is sited in a technology park that backs up to a wooded, wetland location, affording offices and the lunchroom areas a view of a natural woodland setting.
“I wanted to build this first building in Novi because of the quality of life here and in Oakland County,” said Day. “The reception by the community has been great. Our central location to Ann Arbor and Detroit and ability to ship product anywhere makes this area very desirable.”
The Novi planning commission and City Council unanimously approved the project and welcomed Day and the company’s high-paying, skilled jobs. Molecular was assisted in obtaining support for the project by the Oakland County Economic Development Department, Michigan Economic Development Department and private-sector financing through Ann Arbor Commerce Bank.
Molecular Innovations, Inc.
CONTACT: Bruce Babiarz of BAB Associates, LLC, +1-248-890-5030,Babiarz@comcast.net , for Molecular Innovations, Inc.
