📋 Tender Overview
Scope :
The Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology will be built in Virginia by late 2026 to improve medical research.
The project was officially announced in January 2023, and the building size was approved in May of the same year. The groundbreaking ceremony for the institute was held in December 2023.
The design process will extend through 2024, with the issuance of four remaining construction documents packages expected within the same timeframe.
Construction is projected to conclude by late 2026, with initial occupancy anticipated in late 2026 and final occupancy scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.
The research centre will expedite research in areas including cell therapy, gene therapy, nanotechnology and drug delivery, for the development of new medical treatments. It will consolidate high-tech research facilities, advanced manufacturing capabilities and patient-care spaces under a single roof at the UVA.
Location
The institute will replace an existing parking lot within the Fontaine Research Park in Charlottesville, flanked by the Aurbach Medical Research Building and the Snyder Translational Research facility.
The new state-of-the-art research facility is projected to become a major biotechnology research, development and manufacturing hub in the region, attracting pharmaceutical and biotech companies and strengthening the local economies.
Site plan details
The site plan for the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology was approved by the UVA Board of Visitors’ Buildings and Grounds Committee in March 2023, following the approval of the long-term master plan for the research park in 2018 for the development of new research and academic facilities along with a comprehensive infrastructure with transit, a central road, parking and amenities.
The Manning Institute’s proposal aligns with the overall land use plan, aiming to minimise site development costs and unnecessary environmental impacts. The central road, running between the buildings, will include parallel parking, generous sidewalks, landscape features and accommodations compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The board additionally gave its approval for the construction of a parking garage on top of the existing surface parking lot at 400 Ray C Hunt Drive. The seven-floor, 1,275-space parking facility will serve the parking needs of faculty and staff.
Furthermore, the plans include pedestrian and bicycle paths, a bus stop and the installation of a traffic roundabout at the hill’s summit, marking the entrance to the park to enhance traffic flow.
The developments are part of a broader vision to transform the Fontaine Research Park into a campus-scale, active, and collaborative environment that benefits patients, researchers, and visitors alike.
Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology details
The Manning Institute will span four storeys and cover a total area of 350,000ft². It will feature a moder
