Payette, an architectural design firm specializing in complex buildings for medical and scientific research, academic teaching, and healthcare, announced the opening of a new 140,000 square foot building for the College of Pharmacy at the Kingston campus at the University of Rhode Island. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the building on October 5, 2009 and attended by URI President David M. Dooley and Dean of the College of Pharmacy Ronald P. Jordan.

The certified LEED Silver building is the second major component of the URI Health Life Sciences District on the North Kingston campus. Payette also designed the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences (CBLS), which opened in January of this year. Both projects include state-of-the-art teaching and research labs and business incubator space, reflecting the strong public-private partnership character of the school’s mission. The buildings are part of the University’s larger plan to create a science and technology hub that prepares students for careers in the life sciences industry and fosters biotechnology development in the Rhode Island economy.