Demolition underway at UConn Medical Center Campus

FARMINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Connecticut's big investment in bio-science in Farmington took a big step forward Wednesday.

A demolition crew began tearing down about a dozen 1970's vintage buildings on the UConn Medical Center Campus in Farmington Wednesday to make way for the state funded Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine with a price tag of $291 million.

The company will get the building in exchange for creating 300 research jobs over the next decade. The initiative is aimed at expanding the state's bio-science research footprint.

"When I was in China, just a few weeks ago, people were talking about our investment here at the University of Connecticut and Jackson Laboratories investment here at the University of Connecticut," said Governor Dannel Malloy, "this stuff has worldwide implications."

Maine based Jackson Labs is expected to take possession of the land there by the first of next year.

Even though the building isn't expected to be completed for two years Jackson Labs already has employees working in Farmington.

The company is attracting researchers from around the world and they are setting up shop in temporary quarters on the UConn Medical Center Campus.

Like Dr. Yijun Ruan, born in China, educated in the U.S where he became a citizen, but was working in Singapore.

"I'm very excited with the science that we are trying to do and also for the contribution that we can do for the American economy as well," said Dr. Ruan.

"We have employee contracts with 21 people so far," said Mike Hyde, Jackson Labs, "16 are in residence, the other five are somewhere between their former home and Farmington."

The demolition will also make way for a new patient care tower at adjacent John Dempsey Hospital.