Brasfield & Gorrie Breaks Ground on New Southern Research Biotech Center and Campus Renovations

Southern Research recently broke ground on a flagship biotech center that will anchor the development of 200,000 square feet of new or renovated wet lab space for life sciences. The new facility, located on the corner of Richard Arrington Jr., Blvd., and Ninth Avenue South in Birmingham, Alabama, will double the organization’s lab space for researching infectious diseases and greatly expand its work to develop new treatments for cancer and other serious illnesses.

The new center is expected to create 150 new jobs at Southern Research and to double the institution’s annual economic impact to $300 million a year.

Construction alone will create more than 1,100 project-related jobs and generate more than $190 million in economic activity, said Josh Carpenter, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research.

Alongside the new construction, Southern Research has contracted Brasfield & Gorrie to help renovate more than 40,000 square feet of its existing campus facilities in Birmingham’s Southside. Investments include building out more vivarium space and launching a new clinical diagnostics lab.

“As Southern Research studies infections and chronic diseases, the work they produce right here in Birmingham has a direct effect on the world around us,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Regional Vice President and Division Manager Robby Hayes. “Construction projects like this draw on Brasfield & Gorrie’s expertise as science and technology builders, and we’re honored to construct this important facility to serve Birmingham and beyond.”

Learn more in a press release from Southern Research.