Nicolaus Copernicus University Building Quantum Physics Laboratory

PM Group has been appointed to prepare the design for a quantum physics center for Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (NCU). The center will comprise one building of close to 2,000 sqm. (21,520 sq. ft.) The project's value is estimated at approximately zł.25 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

PM Group will be responsible for a complete conceptual design and construction plan of the center. Design work is expected to begin later this month and is to be completed by January 2009.

The project includes the delivery of five laboratories equipped with the latest technological solutions in the field of quantum physics and is expected to provide scientists with top-quality research facilities.

PM Group is also overseeing the first phase of the design and construction of Poland's first biotech park in Kraków. Called LifeScience Park, it will provide approximately 25,000 sqm (269,200 sq. ft.) of modern office and research facilities for scholars from the biotechnology and biomedicine sectors. PM Group is a leading engineering consultancy in Ireland. The company has operated in Poland since 1997.

UW in Ontario, Canada, Breaks Ground on Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre

The University of Waterloo, Ontario, is breaking ground on a $160-million investment designed to propel the university and the country to the forefront of the science of the very small. The university is beginning construction of the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC).

The new centre will be home to not one but two forefront areas of science and engineering - quantum information technology and nanotechnology. Quantum deals with the atomic and sub-atomic levels, where the usual laws of physics do not apply; things can, for instance, exist in two places at the same time. Nanotechnology deals with the fabrication and behavior of materials, devices and systems in the size range of atoms or molecules, generally 100 nanometers or smaller.

The genius and beauty of the quantum-nano concept lies in the unique combination of strengths that result. The potential synergies produced by nano and quantum researchers working side by side will be unique and groundbreaking. No other quantum group in the world has a direct in-house bridge to a major nanotech institute and no nanotech centre has the opportunity to partner in developments at the leading edge of quantum information technologies.

"This is an exciting time for science and the University of Waterloo," says UW Chancellor Mike Lazaridis. "In addition to housing state-of-the-art research labs, this new building will provide a unique and cutting-edge environment that will bring together the brightest minds in basic and applied research to explore and advance quantum computing and nanotechnology."

The facility will be home to the Institute for Quantum Computing, the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology and UW's undergraduate program in nanotechnology engineering. It will be able to accommodate the needs of up to 400 academics, equally split between the quantum and nano sides, with most coming from the faculties of engineering, mathematics and science.

"The Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre will be the first research facility of its kind in the world," says Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. "That kind of innovation is the cornerstone of the economy we are building in Ontario in the 21st century."

The five-story facility will be the most complex scientific building on campus. Significant features include a 10,000-square-foot Class 100 and 1000 cleanroom with state-of-the-art fabrication facilities for quantum and nano devices, an advanced metrology suite, extensive teaching and research laboratories, seminar rooms and offices.

Mechanical and electrical systems account for close to 50 per cent of the construction costs. The building will feature low vibration, low electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference environments employing advanced structural, mechanical and electrical designs.

The Government of Ontario is providing $50 million for construction of QNC. Another $22 million is coming from a $50 million donation from the Lazaridis family. The remaining funding involves federal funding, private donations and university funds.

The Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre is scheduled to open late in 2010 or early 2011.

SK Telecom, China Government to Build Digital Hub

SK Telecom and the China government have agreed to jointly build an "International Digital Contents and Industrial Design Complex" in Beijing. Aimed to boost the growth of China's future digital content and design industries; the new "Beijing Culture City" complex in Yizhuang New Town is 16km southeast from Tiananmen, Beijing.

Under the agreement, SK Telecom will establish a consortium with other SK subsidiaries including SK Engineering and Construction and SK C&C and invest $1 billion to build the 200,000m² (2,152,000 sq. ft.) complex by 2013.

With commercial 3G communication services soon to be available in the local market, SK Telecom expects demand in the digital content industry to grow sharply. The partnership with the China government builds on an earlier cooperation involving TD-SCDMA development. The company said it plans to continue its contribution to the growth of China's future industries by building an international industrial complex leveraging its expertise on communication infrastructure and content business.

The company also noted that the industrial complex would promote partnership between Korean and China companies, thus facilitating further development of high-quality digital content services to customers.

SK Telecom will create a ubiquitous environment with advanced IT network and facilities across the complex and provide content production studios and equipment as well as operate a one-stop service center that will provide customer support.

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