The $170-million project consists of six interconnected buildings. Contrary to the company's former research facilities, the new accommodations provide open laboratories with flexible bench configurations. Collaborative open laboratories and contiguous specialized support and office space enhance research efforts in the areas of analytical sciences, clinical immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, antibody discovery, and tumor immunology.

The common research bench design consists of a highly-recycled-content shelving system that allows researchers to convert a typical wet bench into a ventilated work station or an instrument station without the use of special tools or trades people. The wet area includes a flexible equipment zone, an island bench zone, and direct access to support space. This flexibility and access allows research groups to function in collaborative, open environments while maintaining specialized isolated areas for cell culture, controlled temperature work, robotics, and analytical instruments. A wood casework system, made with sustainable forest products, provides researchers with a choice of storage space or under-counter equipment space. Office work stations are located along the exterior windows surrounding the laboratories. The increased visibility and modular systems within the labs has led to more communication and exchanging of ideas by different research groups who are no longer separated by walls or location.

The 10,000-sf vivarium contains GLP protocol capabilities and radioisotope procedure areas. Researchers have access to a Radioisotope Research Center, flow cytometry, central glasswash, and a freezer farm for long term storage of materials.

The administration building is connected to the laboratories via an indoor glass bridge. Interior workspace is designed to provide abundant natural light and a view of the outdoors. Comfortable tables and chairs are interspersed throughout the hallways and common areas in each building. Multiple meeting rooms with full audio/visual capabilities are available for more formal meetings or lectures.

A commons building includes a warehouse, a cafeteria, espresso bar, and a fully-equipped fitness center. Other amenities include a basketball court, outdoor barbeque, a sand volleyball court, and walking paths. Part of the 2 ½ acres of open space is a natural arroyo that runs through the heart of the campus. One end of the arroyo provides a lawn area for large, outdoor gatherings, with a pond at the other end.

The campus also houses a 1,600-sf Community Laboratory, a dedicated on-site teaching facility where middle and high school students work side-by-side with Biogen Idec researchers. The program is a partnership between Biogen Idec and educators throughout San Diego County and teaches the fundamental tools of scientific research while encouraging exploration and discovery.

Project Information
Building Owner:		Biogen Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Building Location:		San Diego, California UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Project Timeline		Sep 2004 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$170,000,000
Construction Cost:		$98,556,192
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$282
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Atrium Biomedical Cafeteria Headquarters Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory Laboratory: Biomedical Research Laboratory: Pharmaceutical Laboratory: Research Laboratory: Wet Office Office: Researcher Pharmacology Research Research: Biomedical Research: Pharmaceutical Vivarium
Project Team
Architect		Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc. (HOK)
Consultant - Fire Protection		Syska Hennessy Group
Engineer - MEP		Syska Hennessy Group
Engineer - Civil		Rick Engineering Co.
Laboratory Planner		Research Facilities Design (RFD)
Profile Created 12/14/2005
Last Updated 04/04/2006
About the Reported Cost Figures The cost figures reported are supplied by the firms that submitted these projects for publication, which in most cases are the designers or builders. Whereas these sources are intimately familiar with their projects, they may not be fully aware of the owners' finally-realized and recorded costs. In some cases, costs are truly and completely accounted for, and in others they represent a near approximation of the final costs. Costs have not been adjusted for year of construction, nor has any attempt been made to make regional cost adjustments. Further, costs are not comparable on any kind of detailed standard costing model. Hence, it is possible for the cost of one building to include a steam boiler, while the cost of a comparable building might not include the boiler, if steam is being supplied from an already existing campus grid. Or, in another case, a building might include excess boiler capacity to supply steam to another building. Some submittals include fees or unusual site improvements as part of the construction costs, which others do not.