WA & Vanderweil Engineers announced today the completion of the design phase for the expansion of AstraZeneca R&D Boston, the award-winning research lab located in Waltham, MA. AstraZeneca chose the firms because of their strong experience and leadership in innovative planning of laboratory facilities.

At AstraZeneca, the firms are collaborating with the design architect, Wingardh Arkitektontor of Sweden, on the 80,000 SF. It will expand the pharmaceutical giant's current three-wing building by an additional two wings, and provide an atrium space as a common center for the five wings. Construction of the expansion is underway and AstraZeneca anticipates occupying the new portions of the lab in July of 2003.

"We are very pleased to have this partnership with Vanderweil and Wilson Architects," said Hans G. Nilsson, Ph.D., vice president and site general manager for AstraZeneca's R&D Boston. "We presented many difficult infrastructure challenges and site constraints to the two firms. We need sophisticated laboratories in a small -- and fixed -- footprint. Both Vanderweil and Wilson have been able to apply their laboratory experience and expertise to create some innovative and well-thought-out solutions."