TUCSON, Ariz., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: VMSI); the leading company in supplying automated instrument-reagent
systems to histology labs, today announced that plans are being developed to
build a new worldwide corporate headquarters facility in the Rancho Vistoso
Tech Center in Oro Valley, Ariz.  The team of JL Investments, ER + HDR
Architects and BFL Construction has been selected to develop the 19.4-acre
site which will include a campus of three buildings totaling over
182,000 square feet.
    Chris Gleeson, Ventana's president and chief operating officer, commented,
"With the tremendous growth of our company, combined with aggressive plans in
both our core histology business and our emerging genomics opportunity, the
construction of new consolidated facilities in Oro Valley will significantly
enhance our ability to bring new product solutions to the worldwide market and
thus continue our rapid growth."
    Paul H. Loomis, Oro Valley town mayor, commented, "We are very happy to
have Ventana join the Oro Valley community and wish them success in their new
home."
    Ventana kicks off Rancho Vistoso's first phase of its 300-acre High Tech
Campus Industrial Park.  "We are certainly proud to bring Ventana Medical
Systems to Oro Valley.  We feel that they will be a tremendous asset to anchor
the Industrial Park and we look forward to bringing complementary users to Oro
Valley," commented John Beerling of Vistoso Partners.
    Chuck Sweet, town manager of Oro Valley, remarked, "It is very exciting to
see high tech companies such as Ventana relocating to Oro Valley.  We look
forward to a long partnership with Ventana as they become an integral part of
our community of excellence."
    Ventana develops, manufactures and markets instrument/reagent systems that
automate tissue preparation and slide staining in histology laboratories
worldwide.  Ventana's systems are important tools used in the diagnosis and
treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.
    For more information on Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. via facsimile at no
additional cost, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter the stock symbol "VMSI."

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