Dow AgroSciences opens new R&D facility

Dow AgroSciences has opened a new 175,000-sq-ft R&D facility at Dow AgroSciences’ Global Headqua…

Dow AgroSciences has opened a new 175,000-sq-ft R&D facility at Dow AgroSciences’ Global Headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. This new facility is part of a global growth plan for Dow AgroSciences’ research efforts for the development and commercialization of new crop protection and seed, traits, and oils products for growers around the world.

“At Dow AgroSciences, we are dedicated to providing solutions for the growing world that will help farmers improve food production,” said Antonio Galindez, Dow AgroSciences President and CEO. “This new center of expertise will greatly enhance our ability to discover new products and technologies, achieve our growth milestones, and create new jobs.”

In 2010, Dow AgroSciences announced a multi-year expansion that included the construction of this new 175,000-sq-ft research facility, the construction of a new 14,000-sq-ft greenhouse, and the addition of more than 550 scientific and commercial jobs by 2015. The company has already hired more than 400 new employees in Indiana since 2010.

As the newest addition to the company’s 192-acre Indianapolis campus, the new Biotechnology Research Center will support the R&D activities of more than 200 research scientists from the Advanced Technology Development (ATD) and Bioengineering and Bioprocessing Research and Development (BBRD) functions. The new facility includes both office and lab configurations that deliver efficient, high-performing quality biotechnology research labs, while enhancing the company’s safety culture.

The facility was constructed with a goal of achieving certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Features include:

• Up to 30% of the new facility was made with recycled materials.
• 40% of the materials were manufactured within 500 miles of the site, reducing costs for production, shipping, and fuel.
• The facility has reclaimed maple wood from a barn in Montgomery County, Ind., used as an accent throughout the building.
• The multiple window views allow the building to utilize natural daylight.
• A reflective white roof (made by The Dow Chemical Co.) and an extensive heat recovery system in the basement help control temperatures.