Ventana Medical systems expanding into Marana
A worldwide leader in innovative cancer diagnostic solutions, Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. is expanding its research into the Town of Marana by constructing a 60,000-square-foot facility.
The state-of-the-art facility will primarily function as a warehouse and provide services to those in the area as well as those traveling to and from Phoenix. The facility will be located in the Tangerine Commerce Park, which is west of Interstate 10 on West Tangerine Farms Road.
Ventana was established in Tucson in 1987 and focuses on tissue-based cancer diagnostics. There is currently a facility at 1910 E. Innovation Park Drive in Oro Valley. The facility offers laboratory professionals who use digital pathology, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization to test and determine cancer diagnostic solutions. Constructing a facility in Marana is an idea that has been in the works for the past few years.
“It is kind of a vision we have had and then there was Cottonwood Properties and we began to think of what could potentially happen on that property,” said Bill DiVito, from CBRE – a commercial real estate services firm. “We got the logistics report and I was sold on the idea, because of the location.”
Designs, conceptual drawings and pricings have already been made for the facility. It will be a fully air conditioned facility that will hold specialized chillers and refrigerators used for distribution of products. According to DiVito, there is no place in Tucson that has this nice of a logistics building that is right by the freeway. The advantage to having it so close to the freeway is the easy access for those coming from other cities – especially Phoenix. What is also beneficial is the direct and easy access that the Oro Valley Ventana facility has because of Tangerine Farms Road.
Ventana’s mission is to improve the lives of all cancer inflicted patients. Right now, there are 1,200 full-time employees working for Ventana. Globally the company has registered products to 92 countries and has had 399 patents granted. With such a highly recognized reputation, Ventana is the type of company that Marana is wanting in the town.
“We are very excited to have some new construction and economic development,” said Town Manager Gilbert Davidson.
For Marana, this is just another step forward in making the town a more attractive place for businesses and bio-medical research.
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“This will be a highly visible, new building and turn into a catalyst for other people,” said Davidson. “Ventana Medical Systems has a worldwide reputation. Some of the things they are doing – the innovation and biomedical stuff and having that brand in Marana is positive.”
The facility is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2015.