Bioprocessing

From cortisone to CAT scans, the future of medicine has often arrived first at the Mayo Clinic. The tradition continues today with the fit-up of a new headquarters for regenerative biotherapeutics adjacent to the research center’s Rochester, Minn., campus. The fourth floor of the recently built Discovery Square building, Two Discovery Square, had been earmarked originally for office space, but after COVID hit, the developer offered the opportunity to convert some of the office space to laboratory space. Mayo Clinic had been planning to build a Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics and saw an opportunity to lease the 18,000-sf space at Discovery Square and convert it for this cutting-edge biomanufacturing facility.  

CordenPharma Colorado is partnering with BioMed Realty to expand its peptide development capabilities in Boulder with the lease of a 64,000-sf facility in Flatiron Park. Located near the CDMO’s large-scale peptide manufacturing hub, the state-of-the-art building will accommodate process development and analytical services, enabling seamless integration of advanced peptide API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) creation from production to commercialization.

Johnson & Johnson is investing over $1 billion to create a next-generation cell therapy manufacturing facility in Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. The state-of-the-art hub is part of a $55 billion commitment to expand the company’s infrastructure and capacity in the United States by early 2029, and supports plans to produce the vast majority of J&J’s innovative medicines domestically to meet the needs of U.S. patients.

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies opened a $3.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in September of 2025 in Holly Springs, N.C. Integrating leading-edge equipment and technologies, the sophisticated development features eight 20,000-liter bioreactors for the production of bulk drug substances and innovative therapies. Johnson & Johnson and Regeneron have signed 10-year contracts to secure space at the 1.3 million-sf campus, which represents the largest end-to-end cell culture CDMO hub in North America. 

The University of Pittsburgh is constructing the state-of-the-art BioForge center in the Hazelwood Green development, a brownfield site site that once accommodated a steel mill. Designed by HOK, the $250 million hub will drive breakthroughs and innovations in the manufacturing of precision biological medicines to improve human health. The 185,000-sf building will fill a critical gap in the local biotechnology ecosystem by addressing production constraints and cost-based obstacles to the wide distribution and accessibility of novel treatments.

GenesisM, a joint venture between Bain Capital and Botanic Properties, broke ground on a Class A biomanufacturing facility in July of 2025 in Bedford, Mass. Designed by Perkins&Will, the sophisticated development addresses a critical need for purpose-built life sciences infrastructure in the Greater Boston region.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center broke ground in May of 2025 on a visionary complex that will collocate groundbreaking biomedical research with world-class patient care in Kansas City. Designed by HDR and Hoefer Welker, the $486 million facility will deliver a comprehensive array of services in a single integrated location, as well as providing direct access to leading-edge clinical trials.

AstraZeneca opened a $300 million cell therapy facility in May of 2025 in Rockville, Md. Developed by Alexandria Real Estate Equites, the 84,264-rsf building features specialized environments for the production of chimeric antigen receptor therapies (CAR-T) and T-cell receptor therapies (TCR-T). Next-generation biomanufacturing suites will leverage advanced process controls to create life-saving personalized medicine treatments, spanning every step from culturing and formulation to testing.

An evolution of the equipment and technology researchers need is transforming ordinary labs into facilities that deserve to be called next-generation or future-ready. Significant changes in space utilization and lab planning and design are driven by increased automation and robotics, the incorporation of manufacturing, enhanced information technology with an emphasis on data collection, ever-evolving technologies, developer core/shell fit-outs, hybrid work patterns, and different approaches to project delivery and construction. 

McCord Development is planning to construct BioHub Two in northeast Houston. Comprising 500,000 sf of lab, office, and cGMP manufacturing space, the 45-acre campus will accommodate a total of seven structures offering built-to-suit environments for private companies. This dynamic nexus of innovation and discovery will catalyze synergies with San Jacinto College's planned Biotech Training Center, which will be located nearby.

Moderna is investing $322 million to create a state-of-the-art biomanufacturing center in Marlborough, Mass. Offering leading-edge environments for the production of innovative therapies and vaccines, the state-of-the-art facility will also include a cleanroom, labs, offices, and warehouse areas. The project involves the renovation of a two-story, 140,000-sf building that was purchased in spring of 2023 from Oxford Properties. Sited on 24 acres, the existing structure will be expanded to provide an additional 60,000 sf of space. 

Ultragenyx opened a 110,000-sf gene therapy manufacturing facility in June of 2023 in Bedford, Mass. Advancing the creation of innovative treatments for rare genetic diseases, the sophisticated structure enables the large-scale manufacture of clinical-stage materials and approved products based on adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV). The highly efficient building integrates the company's proprietary Pinnacle PCL™ (producer cell line) platform which delivers optimal quality and scalability while reducing costs.

Alamance Community College opened the $19.4 million Biotechnology Center of Excellence in March of 2023 in Graham, N.C. Designed by Clark Nexsen, the 32,000-sf facility provides a large general teaching lab, a cleanroom, seminar and conference rooms, faculty offices, and specialized labs for programs in biotechnology, medical laboratory technology, histotechnology, and agricultural biotechnology.

Genentech broke ground in February of 2023 on a $280 million biologics manufacturing center in Oceanside, Calif. The small-batch facility will utilize single-use bioreactors for the commercial production of innovative therapeutics such as personalized medicines and treatments for rare diseases. Featuring advanced automation platforms and digital technologies, the 84,000-sf plant will leverage in-house process improvements to achieve increased flexibility, speed, and output.

Apollo Global Management is partnering with GeneSuites to create the Catalyst BioCampus in Holly Springs, N.C. Located in the Oakview Innovation Park, the 446,000-sf development will provide high-performance shell space where life science companies can accelerate the production of next-generation therapeutics. Apollo and GeneSuites paid $40.5 million in December of 2022 for the property, which comprises two 105,000-sf buildings and seven acres for future expansion.