DPS|Gilbane, A Joint Venture: Strategic Partnership Created to Deliver Landmark Expansion Project at Albany NanoTech Complex for NY CREATES

The Albany NanoTech Complex
DPS|GILBANE PRESS RELEASE

 

, NY – The newest addition to the NY CREATES’ infrastructure is a state-of-the-art, four-story research and development facility housing a new 50,000 SF ISO 5 cleanroom with accompanying sub-fab. The NanoFab Reflection building, or NFR, is a purposefully and suitably named reflection of the existing high-tech architecture of the site. The Albany NanoTech Complex Expansion extends beyond the ultramodern NFR building itself to a new 900-car parking garage, and a high voltage switchyard upgrade.

With the completion of the project, the non-profit NY CREATES, with key industry, government, and academic partners, will be able to move forward with this new $10 billion High NA EUV Lithography Center to enable development of the world’s most advanced computer chips and drive the long-term growth of New York’s high-tech economy while creating and retaining thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The initiative is supported by New York State’s investment through Empire State Development of $1 billion, which will include the purchase of ASML’s EXE:5200 High NA EUV scanner in addition to the facilities expansion that will encourage future partner growth. This further underpins the recent announcement of NY CREATES as home to the CHIPS for America EUV Accelerator, an NSTC facility under the U.S. CHIPS & Science Act, which will bring additional R&D funding and cement the region’s place as a key domestic chips hub.

To meet the challenges associated with advanced wafer fab design and construction on an active site with operational R&D facilities, a highly experienced, collaborative team with a local presence and a history of successful onsite projects, field expertise and an extensive background in advanced technology was pivotal in executing the next phase of the Albany Nanotech Complex’s growth. In response to the requirements of the large-scale NanoFab Reflection Project, DPS Advanced Technology Group, Inc. (DPS ATG) and Gilbane Building Company established DPS|Gilbane, a Joint Venture.

DPS|Gilbane has engaged Arcadis to provide design services including architecture and engineering. To navigate the advanced preconstruction systems and complexities of construction, an amalgamation of DPS ATG and Gilbane Building Company staff work together directly under the Joint Venture to perform the comprehensive services of procurement, logistics, and construction management on this major project.

Special recognition is owed to the numerous design consultants who contributed to the project, including CHA, Unistress Corporation, Applied High Voltage, Colin Gordon Associates, and Pizzano Consulting Engineers, LLC.

These visionary advancements at NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex supporting ongoing workforce education and research & development related to semiconductors are achieved through innovative project management systems cultivated by the design-build team and its collective experience. The Joint Venture team will employ best-in-class techniques, including Off Site Manufacturing (OSM), to meet the ambitious schedule for the NFR project. By leveraging advanced modelling and virtual design and construction platforms, the design-build team integrates the stakeholders into the planning and design process early which fosters timely decisions, active discussions, and optimizes each phase of the project. This promotes safety and enables cost certainty, schedule reliability, and proactive risk management to ultimately deliver the facility as envisioned.

“To be part of the next chapter here at the Albany NanoTech Complex is an honor,” said Nathan W. Speanburg, P.E., PMP, Project Management Director US Semiconductor, DPS ATG. “DPS ATG and their partner in the Joint Venture, Gilbane Building Company, has put together an awe-inspiring team of top-notch talent that wouldn’t be possible without collaboration between two companies such as ours. The entire team is excited to design and build the next building here and continue to provide services towards the expansion of the semiconductor industry in New York and across the Country.”

“This Complex is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of semiconductor innovation here in New York and across the country,” said Christian Calabrese, Senior Project Executive, Gilbane Building Company. “We’re committed to delivering this design-build project with quality, excellence, and precision to help support this hub for cutting-edge research and collaboration between academia and the industry. Our Joint Venture team will focus on collaboration and innovation to drive the best outcomes on this project.”

The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES) is dedicated to fostering innovative chips-focused R&D, the expansion of technology jobs in New York State, and related workforce development through industry-connected innovation and commercialization projects, such as the NanoFab Reflection project initiative. Semiconductors play a crucial role in driving the global economy, and with the impressive growth of its Albany NanoTech Complex, NY CREATES is actively contributing to encouraging innovation in an essential technological domain, paving the way for next-generation computer chips that are faster and more energy efficient.

Dr. Christopher Borst, Vice President of Technology & Infrastructure at NY CREATES, said: “DPS|Gilbane have been entrusted as strategic partners to build NY CREATES’ new NanoFab Reflection and supporting facilities at our Albany NanoTech Complex. We look forward to the expansion of our critical infrastructure. Once complete, this project will drive next-generation semiconductor advancements for years to come.”

About DPS Advanced Technology Group, Inc.

Serving high-tech industries around the world, DPS Advanced Technology Group, Inc., a member of the Arcadis group of companies, delivers full-service across project management, procurement, design, construction management, and safety management with a focus on Advanced Process Manufacturing Industries. For more information, visit www.dpsgroupglobal.com, www.arcadis.com.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane Building Company is a global leader in construction management, delivering high-quality projects for clients across various markets. Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services. Founded in 1870, Gilbane is still a privately held, family-owned company. With more than 45 office locations worldwide, Gilbane brings world-class experience to local communities.
For 75 years, Gilbane has delivered construction services in New York State for clients across multiple market sectors, including commercial office, multi-unit, and high-rise residential, cultural, education, healthcare, public sector, science and technology, and sports and entertainment.

For more information, visit https://www.gilbaneco.com

Bringing Global Expertise to Advance Memory Technologies in New York

NY CREATES, with its expert staff and partners based at its Albany NanoTech Complex, stands at the forefront of semiconductor research and development. The Albany NanoTech Complex acts as a global hub for enabling significant advancements in chip technologies, and a key reason this is possible is its many collaborative partnerships.

Recently, NY CREATES took an exciting step to further bolster its R&D capabilities by announcing a cooperative partnership between NY CREATES and CEA-Leti. Established by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this past June, the collaboration represents a unique opportunity for both organizations to leverage their respective technical expertise on groundbreaking MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random-Access Memory) projects.

NY CREATES and CEA-Leti Announce Strategic Research Partnership

As a result of this growing partnership, NY CREATES also welcomed Remi Coquand, an R&D Integration Engineer and experienced researcher with CEA-Leti technology research institute in Grenoble, France, to its Albany facility. While NY CREATES boasts world-class manufacturing facilities and expertise, CEA-Leti, along with SpinTec, is renowned for its cutting-edge research in magnetic materials and designs. By combining these organizations’ respective knowledge, their R&D teams aim to push the boundaries of new technologies and deliver innovative results on cutting-edge memory device projects.

Remi’s seamless integration into NY CREATES’ R&D teams is vital to this partnership’s success. His technical expertise and deep passion for semiconductor and memory technologies will drive project synergy.

After earning his PhD and joining CEA-Leti in 2013, Remi has since had the opportunity to work on a wide range of technical projects, including a stint at the IBM Joint Development Program, located in Albany, NY, from 2015 to 2018. “I had the chance to work with a lot of people from New York, and when I went back to France in 2018, I knew that I’d be back here someday,” Remi recalls.

Remi's Family in NYC
Remi's Family Traveling
Remi's Family Holiday Outing

That promise has now come to fruition, as Remi has returned to team up with the NY CREATES’ R&D teams. He is now part of the integration team, focusing on the development of MRAM technologies.

“The main reason for CEA-Leti and NY CREATES to make this connection is to bring some insights from the technological advancements we know at CEA in terms of device behavior, electrical testing, and designs of magnetic materials,” he explains. “I’m just a piece of a larger puzzle, and I’m looking forward to bringing as much knowledge as possible to the table to advance MRAM technologies.”

The joint development agreement included Remi as an assignee in the U.S., based in New York, for at least two years, with the potential to extend the partnership further based on project completion. This long-term commitment from CEA-Leti and the value that Remi’s expertise brings to project development underscores the significance of memory technologies to both organizations.

Remi and his family are excited to return to New York as his work continues to drive innovation. “It’s exciting to have my family back here in New York and to have the kids rediscover the area,” Remi shares. “It’s all part of an adventure; we are the adventure.”

By tapping into international talent and expertise, NY CREATES’ continues solidifying its position as a hub for groundbreaking semiconductor research and development. As Remi settles into his new role, the excitement is palpable. “The excitement is being a part of something this big, where anything you can know, try, test, or anything can end up in a manufacturing company to high-volume manufacturing,” he says. “That’s exciting.

With Remi’s arrival and expertise, a cross-Atlantic partnership among allied organizations is set to further drive the future of innovation and technology from New York to France, with the potential to improve the technologies we use each day.

NY CREATES Statement on NSTC Workforce Advisory Board Selection

“I am honored to be selected as an inaugural member of the National Semiconductor Technology Center Workforce Advisory Board, and I look forward to working closely with the other distinguished board members to drive impactful regional and U.S. workforce development initiatives. NY CREATES continues its focus on enabling the high-tech workforce by aligning educational and training opportunities with semiconductor industry needs via a broad portfolio of scalable programs engaging high school, community college and university students, as well as military veterans, apprentices, and the incumbent semiconductor workforce. As home to the CHIPS for America EUV Accelerator, a flagship National Semiconductor Technology Center facility, NY CREATES is proud to further support critical workforce development efforts and the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence that will address industry challenges across the nation.”

– Dr. Robert Geer
NY CREATES Vice President for Education and Workforce Development
 
Please find a copy of the related Natcast news release below:

Natcast Announces Inaugural Members of National Semiconductor Technology Center Workforce Advisory Board

Board will offer critical input on national, regional workforce development strategies to strengthen U.S. semiconductor workforce ecosystem

WASHINGTON, D.C, January 2, 2025 – Natcast, the purpose-built, non-profit entity designated by the Department of Commerce to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) established by the CHIPS and Science Act of the U.S. government, today announced 18 inaugural members of the NSTC Workforce Advisory Board (WFAB).

Comprising U.S. leaders focused on growing the semiconductor workforce from the private sector, higher education, workforce development organizations, the Department of Commerce, and other federal agencies, the WFAB will support the efforts of the recently established NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE). It will offer critical input on national and regional workforce development strategies to ensure WCoE initiatives are employer-driven, worker-centered, and responsive to real-time industry challenges.

“Through the CHIPS for America Program, we’re seeing state-of-the-art fabs and critical expansion projects pop up across the nation. But to fill these fabs and ensure we’re successful in our goals, we need skilled workers on the job, which is why the Department is investing $250 million in the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These impressive leaders have the experience and track record necessary to advise the WCoE and hold it to the highest standards and will be critical to moving these efforts forward.”

“The NSTC Workforce Advisory Board will play a critical role in supporting the mission and work of the Workforce Center of Excellence,” said Deirdre Hanford, Natcast CEO. “Members of the WFAB will contribute their expertise and insights to inform workforce development strategies and programs, foster domestic workforce development ecosystems that can adapt to the ever-evolving demands of the industry, and ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of semiconductor innovation.

Selected from a broad-based pool of more than 300 applicants, inaugural WFAB members include:

  • April Arnzen, EVP & Chief People Officer, Micron Technology, and President, Micron Foundation
  • Marcia Ballinger, President, Lorain County Community College
  • Danielle Mary Eckert, Assistant to the President for Government Affairs, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  • Maria Flynn, President & CEO, Jobs for the Future
  • Robert Geer, VP of Education & Workforce Development, NY CREATES, and Professor of Nanoscale Science, University of Albany, SUNY
  • Dr. Azuri L. Gonzalez, Executive Director, Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, and UT Regents’ Endowed Distinguished Director, Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success, The University of Texas at El Paso
  • Dr. Garrett C. Groves, Vice Chancellor, Austin Community College District
  • Matt Hicks, Senior Director of Foundries, Test & Advanced Packaging, Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Center
  • Surya Iyer, President & COO, Polar Semiconductor
  • Jill Larsen, Chief People Officer, Synopsys
  • Shari Liss, VP of Global Workforce Development & Initiatives, SEMI
  • Vijay Raghunathan, VP of Global Partnerships & Programs and Director of Semiconductor Education, Purdue University
  • Pradheepa Raman, Chief People Officer, GlobalFoundries
  • Dr. Alyssa Reinhart, Director of Workforce Development, Texas Institute for Electronics
  • Kwee Lan Teo, Head of Workforce Development, Samsung Austin Semiconductor
  • Sandra Watson, President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority
  • George Eugene White, Senior Director, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Founder, HBCU Chips Network
  • Jared Zerbe, Director of Engineering, Apple Inc.

“We are excited to welcome our inaugural WFAB members,” said John Ratliff, executive director of the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence. “Each member brings years of relevant experience to the board and will provide an invaluable perspective into the needs of employers, educators, workers, and learners to ensure our programming remains aligned with best practices and industry needs. Their work will contribute to the development of innovative solutions to bolster the nation’s semiconductor workforce and to nurture the next generation of semiconductor talent. We look forward to kicking off our first WFAB meeting in the new year.”

Launched in September 2024 with a $250 million investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the WCoE is the dedicated anchor institution that brings together key stakeholders to better understand the nature of and find solutions to the workforce challenges facing the U.S. semiconductor industry. The WCoE’s programs are guided by real-time insights from the entire semiconductor value chain and include input from both the WFAB and NSTC members at large.

To learn more about the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence, its initial programs, and the WFAB, visit natcast.org/workforce. To learn more about NSTC membership and to join the mission, visit natcast.org/nstcmembership.

NY CREATES Statement on the Third CHIPS for America R&D Flagship Facility

“On behalf of NY CREATES, I would like to extend our congratulations to Arizona State University on being selected as the anticipated location for the CHIPS for America NSTC Prototyping and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility, an NSTC and NAPMP facility. We welcome ASU as a critical peer supporting the NSTC’s mission, as NY CREATES hosts the CHIPS for America EUV Accelerator, a flagship NSTC facility at our Albany NanoTech Complex, North America’s most advanced non-profit semiconductor R&D center. Together, our collective efforts will drive transformative innovation, strengthen the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem, and ensure our nation’s leadership in next-generation technologies. We look forward to collaborating with ASU, Natcast, and the broader network of partners to advance the future of microelectronics.”

-Dave Anderson
NY CREATES President
 
 
Please find a copy of the related  Natcast news release below:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Arizona State University Research Park as Planned Site for Third CHIPS for America R&D Flagship Facility

Facility is expected to host the world’s first 300mm front-end semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging research facility

Today, the Department of Commerce and Natcast announced the Arizona State University (ASU) Research Park in Tempe, Arizona as the anticipated location for the third flagship CHIPS for America research and development (R&D) facility. The CHIPS for America NSTC Prototyping and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility (PPF), an NSTC and NAPMP facility, will feature cutting-edge capabilities to bridge the gap between laboratory research and full-scale semiconductor production. It will enable researchers and industry leaders to develop and test new materials, devices, and advanced packaging solutions in a state-of-the-art R&D environment. This newly constructed facility is expected to be operational in 2028 and will play a key role in driving U.S. leadership in semiconductor innovation, economic growth, and national security.

“A strong research and development ecosystem is essential to ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of semiconductor innovation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Arizona has long been a hub for technological progress, and this new facility will strengthen our domestic supply chain, drive advanced manufacturing breakthroughs, and secure America’s leadership in this critical industry. Thanks to the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, combined with the other two CHIPS for America R&D flagship facilities, we will help bring American innovations to the global market, further securing our national and economic security.”

“Thanks to the bipartisan CHIPS and Science act, we are investing at historic levels in the technologies of both today and tomorrow,” said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian. “Today’s announcement with ASU ensures the United States will continue to be a leader in research and development and win the future by investing in skilled workers, moonshot technologies, and the advancements needed to stay ahead in critical industries, such as AI.”

Scaling new semiconductor technologies from research to full production remains a significant challenge for the industry. Key obstacles include a lack of 300mm semiconductor wafer prototyping capability facilities and the absence of shared access to specialized facilities, shared infrastructure, skilled resources, and capital.

To meet these challenges, CHIPS for America is investing in integrated R&D activities to fill a critical gap in the lab-to-fab innovation cycle. The PPF’s prototyping capabilities will consist of at least one 300mm full-flow complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology as a stable baseline for experiments. The facility will also allow for a variety of R&D in a manufacturing-like environment that would not be feasible at a manufacturing site, including novel materials and device architectures. Key packaging capabilities are expected to include a baseline advanced packaging piloting line to enable the development and commercialization of new packaging processes. The facility will also support U.S. workforce development efforts by providing opportunities for collaborative, hands-on research utilizing industry-leading tools and equipment.

“The PPF will play a critical role in advancing semiconductor innovation across the country,” said Deirdre Hanford, Natcast CEO. “This facility will be a premier destination where researchers from industry, academia, startups, and the broader semiconductor ecosystem will convene to explore, experiment, and collaborate on the next generation of semiconductor and packaging technologies that will power the industries of the future.”

As one of three CHIPS R&D flagship facilities, the PPF will be amplified by Arizona’s robust and growing microelectronics landscape, including leading front-end semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging companies, and a vibrant university research environment. The expected partnership with ASU will jumpstart R&D in these areas and leverage the substantial programs underway at the university.

Combined with the EUV Accelerator and the Design and Collaboration Facility, these state-of-the-art flagship facilities will establish world-class destinations for advanced semiconductor R&D in the United States. They will address critical gaps in the current ecosystem, offering unparalleled value to a diverse array of stakeholders across the semiconductor value chain, including universities, small businesses, large manufacturers, and government agencies, and help build vibrant semiconductor ecosystems in the U.S. that bolster cutting-edge R&D and create quality jobs. The Department of Commerce and Natcast expect to announce information in the coming months about the process for selecting affiliated technical centers.

Natcast has accepted a nonbinding Letter of Intent from the Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona State University. The final contract is subject to additional due diligence, continued negotiations, and refinement of terms.

CHIPS for America and Natcast announced the model and selection process for the three CHIPS R&D flagship facilities in July 2024. The selection of these sites followed a multi-phase facilities selection process and is consistent with the July 2024 facilities model, which was informed by more than a year of discussions with stakeholders building on the release of the NSTC Vision and Strategy paper and the NAPMP Vision paper as well as robust analysis on the current and planned future state of the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and R&D ecosystems. A request for information published by Natcast in March 2024 also collected feedback on the demand for prototyping facilities capabilities and informed the facility model. 

Learn more about the CHIPS for America R&D flagship facilities and other NSTC initiatives at natcast.org.