College of Pharmacy Construction Project boost for Rhode Island companies, workers

KINGSTON, R.I. – March 29, 2012 – When the University of Rhode Island talks about the impact of its construction projects on jobs in Rhode Island, it’s worth paying attention.


Here is a breakdown of the latest employment numbers for the $75 million new pharmacy project on the Kingston Campus:


• Subcontractor work awarded to Rhode Island firms based on dollars, 65.3 percent.


• Subcontractor work awarded to non-Rhode Island firms based on dollars: 34.7 percent.


• Total subcontractor tradesmen/tradeswomen: 654


• Total Rhode Island resident subcontractor tradesmen/tradeswomen: 383, 58.6 percent.


• Total Massachusetts subcontractor tradesmen/tradeswomen: 222, 33.9 percent.


• Total Connecticut resident subcontractor tradesmen/tradeswomen: 42, 6.4 percent.


• Total New Hampshire resident subcontractor tradesmen/tradeswomen: 7, 1.1 percent.


• Total tradesmen: 646, 98.8 percent.


• Total Tradeswomen: 8, 1.2 percent.


Here are some other key facts:


• Five-story, 142,000-square-foot facility, replaces 66,000 square-foot Fogarty Hall, the College of Pharmacy’s current home, which opened in 1964..


• Supported by a $65 million bond issue overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2006, and private donations and University funds.


• University is seeking LEED Silver Certification for environmental design and engineering.


• Will house a $6 million current good manufacturing process facility, which was squeezed by space limitations in Fogarty Hall. It will allow URI to once again become a leader in best practices training for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as private pharmaceutical companies.