Skanska was awarded thecontract for the project in 2007. The first phase willinvolve the development of roads, storm water management systems,parking, utility infrastructure and landscaping. When complete, the40-acre site at Wambold and Fretz roads will hold a 74,500-sfoffice building and 165,600-sf production facility for packaging,storage, warehouse, shipping and receiving and label control. Theproject has already drawn the ireof local builders for Skanska's decision to use only union labor onthe project.

Almac, based in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, will combine theoperations of its Pennsylvania divisions in Audubon in MontgomeryCounty and Yardley in Bucks County at the new complex, which wasdesigned by Francis Cauffman Architects, Genesis Engineering andBarry Isett & Associates. Nearly 500 employees will berelocated to the new complex, with an additional 265 jobs to becreated within three years.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and EconomicDevelopment put together a $9-million funding package for theproject. It included a $4.5-million grant through theinfrastructure and facilities improvement program that will bedisbursed over a 10-year period, $2-million loan from thePennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, $1.25-million grantfrom the infrastructure development program, $400,000 OpportunityGrant and nearly $1 million in job-training funds and job-creationtax credits.