University plans science park

The Univeristy of Miami has signed a contract to start the first phase of developing a 2 million-square-foot life science park. The first part of the six-building project, which Wexford Science & Technology of Hanover, Md., will develop, breaks ground in July. Bart Chernow, vice president of special programs and vice provost of technology advancement at UM Miller School of Medicine, said the 211,000-square-foot building would be the first phase of a project that would house both established and spin-off companies working with university researchers. Estimates claim it would create 4,531 permanent jobs and an economic output of $253 million.