Stories of 2011: Atrium Medical Hopes to Build

It's been a little more than six months since Patch launched in Merrimack and it's been an eventful half a year. With 10 days left in 2011, we decided to count down 10 stories we think are worth another look.

Some are uplifting, some are not. Some mean big things for the future of Merrimack, others are simply a slice of life. Some stories are not over, they'll continue well into 2012 and we will continue to bring you updates.

Thank you for making our first six months better than we could have imagined. We are excited to see what is in store for 2012.

2. Medical Device Company Looking to Build in Merrimack

On Nov. 20, we learned Hudson-based Atrium Medical Corp. had submitted plans to build a new facility in Merrimack that is more than 300,000 square feet.

The plans had been in the works for about three or four months, Community Development Director Tim Thompson said at the time.

Atrium is looking to build headquarters with space for offices, research development, a warehouse and manufacturing facility.

According to the plans filed with the the planning department, the 311,000 square-foot building would house a three-story office, two-story research center, one-story production area and one-story warehouse.

On Dec. 6, Jim Petropulos, an engineer with Hayner Swanson, Inc., of Nashua, who is representing Atrium, The board accepted the project that night and Atrium will meet again with the board on Jan. 17 to address some issues raised at the first meeting.

The building would “infuse about 500 jobs into the community” and there is an option in the plans to expand to about 700 jobs within a 400,000 square-foot facility, Thompson said.

The proposed building would be constructed at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway on the south end of Daniel Webster Highway.

Other stories that made our Top 10 list: