Luna Innovations is consolidating and expanding its Blacksburg-based research and development offices to occupy 31,000 square feet in the Technology Manufacturing Building in the Blacksburg Industrial Park.

The company currently houses its research, development, manufacturing and administrative departments in two other buildings in the Blacksburg Industrial Park as well as a Luna Technologies Division in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

"With the leasing of this fantastic facility, Luna is able to bring all of our Blacksburg operations together," CEO Kent Murphy said in a press release.

Luna spokeswoman Karin Clark said she does not know how many Luna employees will eventually work in the new location because the company is also planning to move its corporate headquarters to an office and laboratory complex currently under construction in Roanoke.

But, Clark noted, about 20 new positions will be created in the consolidated Blacksburg facility in the next 12 to 18 months.

Clark said Luna hopes to move into the Technology Manufacturing Building in late spring or early summer, as soon as internal work there is complete.

The company will share the building with Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials.

Luna Innovations researches, develops and commercializes technologies in the areas of molecular technology solutions and sensing solutions.

--Angela Manese-Lee