The new facility, still in the planning stages, will serve as a 140,000-sf expansion neighboring CARB I, which houses 85,000 sf on the university's Shady Grove campus. CARB I made was developed for $7.6 million and made its debut in 1989. Construction of CARB II is expected to get underway later this year. The estimated completion date for the project is June 2004.

This second phase of the research facility will allow the school to expand its work from basic research to encompass research of commercial endeavors ranging from biotechnological manufacturing and drug design to genome analysis. The building will offer additional research laboratory space, classrooms, a computer lab, greenhouse and seminar and conference space. Due to changes in the real estate market and the souring economy, development costs for the project have increased by more than $10 million over the original estimated figure of $38 million.

"CARB II will be an asset to Maryland's already-impressive biotechnology portfolio," Lieutenant Gov. Michael S. Steele says. The state of Maryland is known as a national leader in the biotechnology industry. Montgomery County, where CARB II and I are located, is considered the center of biotechnology in Maryland, serving as home base for about 60% of the state's biotech companies. The first CARB helped lure related companies to the biotech corridor along US Rte. 270, and CARB II is expected to do the same.