Vermeer Corp. has announced the construction of a new Applied Technology Hub, new roundabouts are being constructed to smooth traffic flow, the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica building is on pace to be finished before the end of the year and new restaurants have committed to be a part of the Phase III expansion of the ISU Research Park.

PHASE III

The Phase III expansion is focused on developing more than 100 acres, adding mixed-use facilities, community areas, green spaces, trailways and more. Brent Willett, executive director of the Cultivation Corridor Initiative, said the more than 100-acre expansion is expected to create between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs in the next 10 to 15 years.

The developer of The Cafe and Aunt Maude’s, The Cafe Commercial Development group, has signed on to create the first restaurant for the park. The new restaurant will, like The Cafe, serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and include a bar, coffee shop, bakery, catering and outdoor dining.

Developers are still looking for more commercial businesses and a day-care provider to fill out Hub Square, the town-square style portion of the development.

Phase III also includes the $22 million, 52,000-square-foot Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica facility. Research Park officials say the building is ahead of schedule and should open for business before Dec. 31.

VERMEER CORP.

Vermeer, the Pella-based agriculture and construction equipment company, is building a new state-of-the-art facility to house offices, meeting spaces and a high bay space. The company hopes the space will help software engineers develop affordable, practical, modular equipment technology.

The space will also allow students and faculty from all over the country to work collaboratively on technological advancements for Vermeer industrial and agricultural equipment.

Vermeer plans to occupy 20,000 square feet of the almost 36,000-square-foot building.

ROUNDABOUTS

Three roundabout intersections are being installed on University Boulevard south of Airport Road. The plans also include facilities specifically for bicycles, as well as points that could be used for connections in the future.

According to the city of Ames website, the project is placing multi-modal transportation at the center of the discussion. The plans will take pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and varying sizes of vehicles into consideration.

The city says the roundabouts are not an “experiment,” but a “proven, effective, safe transportation network tool.”

The roundabouts will serve the same purpose as a four-way stop, but will keep traffic moving instead of coming to a halt.