2009 – Page 92 of 98

U-M’s Walgreen Drama Center takes bow for architecture award

By Newsroom

●

January 28, 2009

"I'd like to thank my mother. And my wife. And my architect..."Miller Theater will take home a nice, new shiny award for the building's architecture.The USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) will give U-M an Architecture Merit Award. USITT is association of design, production and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry.The 97,500-square-foot Drama Center was built last year. Its two floors include classrooms, studios, U-M Theatre & Drama Department offices, wardrobe and scene-building space, and auditorium and the 250-seat Arthur Miller Theatre. The theatre is the only venue named after U-M alumnus Arthur Miller.USITT awards have recognized architectural excellence since 1994. The award helps broaden awareness of innovative and significant designs for contemporary theaters.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Video Ypsilanti, By The Cup

By Keith Jefferies

●

Community Development

●

January 23, 2009

Looking for a real coffeehouse? One that doesn't feel like a carbon copy Starbucks clone? Then Ypsilanti is the place. With a quartet of locally owned cool cafes it's just further proof that the city is earning its hipper-than-thou reputation.

EMU’s Autism Center Is Here To Help

By Marc Aust, Eastern Michiagn University Foundation

●

Healthy Communities

●

January 23, 2009

Since 1993 there has been a dramatic increase in the rise in autism spectrum disorder among six- to 22-year-olds in the U.S. Quick to react to this alarming development is EMU and St. Joseph Health Systems, their many volunteers, and the generous donors. The result is the Autism Collaborative Center that will offer program options for next summer and begin full services in the fall of 2009.

EMU Spotlights George ‘Iceman’ Gervin

By Jeremy Allen, Eastern Michiagn University Foundation

●

Kids and Education

●

January 23, 2009

They called EMU legendary men's basketballer George Gervin the "Iceman" because he was as cool as a cucumber out on the court. He spent two season as an Eagle, dominating the floor with nearly 30 points-per-game, 15 bouards, and shooting nearly 60 percent. He went on to play in the CBA, the ABA, and eventually the NBA where he had a hall of fame career.

Ann Arborites create new technology to simplify parking

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

January 21, 2009

Parking woes have long been the scourge of downtown Ann Arbor. But a couple of local brains are coming up with a new application that could help solve that problem without adding a single extra space."Everyone is interested in parking," says Fred Posner, who developed the new application with Ed Vielmetti. "There has been some creative use of this data in the past."What he's talking about is the real-time data of how full downtown Ann Arbor's parking garage are at any given point or time. That information is available at the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority's website.There is a chance that someone planning to visit downtown will see available spaces in a specific parking garage that might not be there when he or she arrives. Posner and Vielmetti's application would allow that motorist to call a number, set a parking garage destination and allow that number to call them before they get there with the parking availability.A prototype of this service is available to the public by calling (212) 937-7844. Posner and Vielmetti hope to have a Beta version with a local number up and running within a couple of weeks.Source: Fred Posner, developer of the downtown Ann Arbor parking applicationWriter: Jon Zemke

Ex-Pfizerites open consulting, software firm in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

January 21, 2009

The Pfizer story is becoming a bit cliché in Ann Arbor these days. Pfizer closes its Ann Arbor campus. Media declares calamity. People worry then go on with their lives, taking advantage of the opportunity that has been created.That's the case with the six ex-Pfizer employees behind Integrated Nonclinical Development Solutions. They formally started the company a few months after Pfizer closed in May 2007."It's been something we have been talking about for several years," says Jim Herman, the company's president. "What really got us going was the announcement of the Pfizer closing."Those six people are still with the company, but now they've added an independent contractor. Herman hopes to add a person or three this year as the company grows.The company has basically two focuses. The consulting side that helps drug-development companies with issues like toxicology. The other half, however, helps create software for these drug development companies. The first product takes information from databases and creates graphs and tables for researchers. The firm currently has serviced about two dozen clients, ranging from small pharma firms to major multinational pharmas. Herman hopes to add another 10-20 clients this year.Source: Jim Herman, president of Integrated Nonclinical Development SolutionsWriter: Jon Zemke

Online Tech plans to hire in Ann Arbor, expand database centers

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

January 21, 2009

Growth isn't just a mantra for Ann Arbor-based Online Tech, it's practically the data-storage company's middle name.It has added a handful of positions to its staff of 16 employees, two independent contractors and cadre of summer interns since early last year. It can do that thanks to 30-40 percent growth in each of the firm's last five years. And it hopes to add another 4-6 people this year.Oddly enough, as Online Tech grows bigger its making its name smaller. The firm used to be known as Online Technologies Corp, but often went by OTC. Well, OTC has several different meanings to even more people and the original name was more than a mouthful."We decided Online Tech worked better," says Mike Klein, president of Online Technologies. "It fit in with our website and it was easy to say."Online Tech has specializes in storing digital information since its founder, Yan Ness, started it in 2002. The firm's data centers in Ann Arbor and Flint allow individuals and businesses to back-up their computer files on secure servers.Online Tech has grown more than six-fold since it started and is looking to expand. Klein says his company is looking to make an acquisition of at least 10,000 square feet for a new data center. He sees opportunity in the current economy and credit crisis for Online Tech as more companies hold off on expanding their own data centers. Klein thinks those companies will choose to outsource to firms like his as they try to conserve cash.Source: Mike Klein, president of Online TechnologiesWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M takes in big grants for sustainability, smart-bridge research

By Newsroom

●

Innovation News

●

January 21, 2009

We've all heard of smart phones and smart cars and and a whole host of other gadgets that seem to have minds of their own. Now the University of Michigan is working on smart infrastructure, specifically smart bridges.The $19 million federally funded project will create a system that monitors the strengths and weaknesses of bridges as they age. It will also study the effects of heavy trucks and corrosion on the bridges.The project will take place over five years and on bridges yet to be determined.Six U-M students have also received $50,000 fellowships from the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute to support interdisciplinary research related to environmental sustainability.These doctoral candidates will use the money for research on sustainability projects. The U-M now has 25 students who have received these fellowships.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor SPARK raffles off Ypsilanti incubator space at ACE

By Newsroom

●

Entrepreneurship

●

January 21, 2009

Everything an ambitious start-up needs to be successful will be up for grabs at the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship tomorrow.A whole lot of start-up know-how will be available at the conference, but something more valuable will also be on hand – free space in Ann Arbor SPARK's new East Business Incubator in downtown Ypsilanti. Ann Arbor SPARK plans to raffle off one free year's lease.That free space, worth $4,800, will include access to a VOIP phone system, T-1 internet connection, a full kitchen, two conference rooms, free parking and administrative resources such as copiers and cleaning services. There will also be access to Ann Arbor SPARK's business acceleration services.Ann Arbor SPARK is also offering discounts on its Ypsilanti incubator space. Start-ups can have one month's rent free with a commitment of at least three months for a total of four months. Officials at Ann Arbor SPARK are negotiating with two major anchor tenants for the Ypsilanti incubator. Both companies are expected to bring in up to half a dozen employees each."We're hopeful we'll know by the end of the month if either are going to sign," says Elizabeth Parkinson, managing director of marketing and public relations for Ann Arbor SPARK.Ann Arbor SPARK has 8,000 square feet available in the ground floor of the Mack & Mack building on Michigan Avenue. Workers are finishing up the details of the renovation right now. The first companies are expected to move in during February."They're in the process of putting in the cubicles," Parkinson says.Ann Arbor SPARK has incubator space in downtown Ann Arbor where about three or four spots are still available. It also has incubator space for life science-based companies at a laboratory incubator in Plymouth.Source: Elizabeth Parkinson, managing director of marketing and public relations for Ann Arbor SPARKWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s JV BioLabs shows start-ups are more than skin deep

By Newsroom

●

Entrepreneurship

●

January 21, 2009

Not all University of Michigan spin-offs are taking big multi-national companies by storm. Some are just getting their feet under them, finding their way in the world.That's JV Biolabs. The Ann Arbor-based firm consists of Kent Johnson and Jim Varani, two U-M professors who started the firm a little more than year ago. Both men have long resumes in medical research, especially when it comes to skin tissue research."We're really just getting up and running," says Kent Johnson, president of JV Biolabs. They have been helping other research companies with their work for the time being. But they are also doing their own research on the skin repair and regeneration. Johnson hopes he and his partner can develop some compounds to assist those processes."Especially with diabetics because they have significant issues with their skin," Johnson explains.Source: Kent Johnson, president of JV BiolabsWriter: Jon Zemke