BUFFALO, NY, March 10, 2004 - -On Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at 1:30 p.m., the Seneca Steel Erectors placed the final piece of structural steel for the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute's new Structural Biology Research Center. Located at 700 Ellicott Street between Virginia and Carlton Streets, this new facility is part of a $150 million Buffalo Life Sciences Complex with the University at Buffalo and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Today, HWI board and staff joined the steel erectors and Ciminelli-Cowper Construction to witness the completion of the first phase of this project. The final steel beam was painted white so individuals could sign the piece. Additionally, an American Flag was placed on the beam as it was hoisted to its final position.

Construction of the new 72,000 sq. ft. HWI facility began in October 2003, with the first piece of structural steel placed on January 7, 2004. We expect to have the facility enclosed by June of this year, with occupancy set for the first quarter of 2005.

A Western New York center for basic biomedical research since 1956, the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute is a world-renowned, independent, non-profit facility located in the heart of the newly emerging Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Our basic research mission is two-fold; committing ourselves to improving the health of people for generations to come by studying the causes of diseases at their basic molecular level; and working to educate the scientists of tomorrow.