CarrAmerica Development Inc., a subsidiary of CarrAmerica Realty Corp., has been selected for exclusive negotiations to be the master developer of a UC Davis research park planned on 38 acres along Interstate 80 in the southern portion of the campus.
The privately-developed research park, which will encourage beneficial research partnerships between UC Davis and private, public or non-profit organizations, is expected to begin construction in 2003 pending further approvals by the UC Board of Regents.
"This project was initiated to promote partnerships that enhance our research activities," said John Meyer, vice chancellor for resource management and planning.
"We also strongly believe that this will promote regional economic development. UC Davis is a top research institution and well-positioned to bring greater benefits to the region."
CarrAmerica, a national real estate development company with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, will assume all development risk in constructing and leasing facilities to various public and private research entities approved by the campus.
The university will have final oversight and approval for tenants of the park, carried out by an advisory board composed of academic and administrative campus leaders. Criteria for business lease proposals will require that the tenant have a research relationship with the campus.
The CarrAmerica master development team includes New York-based Turner Construction and the architectural firm Dowler Gruman of Mountain View.
CarrAmerica has extensive experience in the development of business parks including research space and biotechnology users. In addition, CarrAmerica has the financial resources needed for the project. Turner Construction and Dowler Gruman have experience in the construction and design of research facilities.
The UC Davis research park will occupy 27 acres of land south of I-80 and west of Old Davis Road, and another 11 acres of land north of I-80 and south of the UC Davis Arboretum at the south entry to the campus. The land is currently being used to grow research crops.
The 1994 Long Range Development Plan for UC Davis included about 80 acres for potential research parks. In addition to the primary sites adjacent to I-80, approximately 40 acres of land to the west of Highway 113 have been designated for future enterprise development.
The research park concept was approved by campus administrators and faculty in spring of 2000, and has been endorsed by faculty through the Academic Senate.
UC Davis annually is awarded more than $275 million in research funding from a variety of government and private sources, and its academic strengths provide a unique combination of academic resources to fuel collaborations with both the public and private sectors. A number of research businesses and public entities have already expressed an interest in locating on the new campus site.
In the coming months, CarrAmerica representatives will be meeting with UC Davis faculty and staff to develop marketing and master plans for the research park, and to negotiate ground lease terms.
Additional environmental impact studies will be conducted as needed and final UC Regents' approval of the plan, design guidelines and ground lease business terms is expected in 2003.