The Van Andel Institute has received the go-ahead from the Grand Rapids Planning Commission for a 250,000-square-foot, $160 million addition to their existing facility. The eight-story building will replace a surface parking lot on the northeast corner of Crescent Street and Division Avenue. Upon completion, the new construction will bring the VAI to a total of 400,000 square feet.
“The majority of the addition will be lab space,” said Joe Gavan, Vice President of Communications. “We will have the capacity to have approximately 800 full time career positions.”
About 580 of those positions will be new jobs. While the VAI recruits international scientists and doctors, the Institute also hopes to fill many of these positions with local medical professionals. To do so, VAI is collaborating with the MichBio Expo to generate interest and excitement in local high school seniors who may be considering careers in the life sciences.
On October 10, the MichBio Expo dedicated its opening day to a select group of 200 West Michigan seniors with an interest in the sciences. These students and their teachers toured the VAI and attended presentations from Steve Triezenberg, the dean of the Van Andel Graduate School, as well as working scientists.
“We expect the phase II addition to do more of what the Van Andel Institute has already done for Grand Rapids,” Gavan said. “If it wasn’t for the Van Andel Institute, the growth in life sciences on Michigan hill may not have taken place. As discoveries come about, more opportunities come about.”
The VAI specializes in cancer research, and research in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
Source: Joe Gavan, Van Andel Institute
www.vai.org