USP headquarters named Best Biotech

Rockville, Md., July 24, 2008 — The U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention today announces that its new headquarters has been honored by the Maryland/DC Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) as the Best BioTech Building in the region. USP's new headquarters was designed to help the organization build on its core mission of setting official quality standards for legally marketed medicines, dietary supplements and food ingredients in the United States and around the world.

The building was designed by HOK, a noted Washington D.C.-based firm that has many buildings to its credit, including the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a companion facility to the museum, near Washington Dulles International Airport.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from the NAIOP," said Roger L. Williams, M.D., USP executive vice president and CEO. "Our new headquarters building is helping our growing organization to set public standards that benefit consumers all over the world, and our advanced laboratories are keeping us at the forefront of rapidly advancing science and technology."

USP's new headquarters building officially opened in March and boasts over 227,000 square feet of office, laboratory and meetings center space. Laboratories and office space are integrated to facilitate employee collaboration, and a world map appears on the glass exterior of the meetings center window to reflect USP's international standards-setting mission. Sustainability was also a major factor in the design, as the building is constructed of high levels of recycled material, features energy efficient appliances, and includes a "green roof" made up of vegetation that improves storm water management and reduces energy consumption. Construction was completed by DPR Construction and the project was managed by Orr Partners.