Biotechnology

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.

Sterling Bay broke ground in May of 2023 on Pacific Center, a $650 million life sciences campus in the Sorrento Mesa area of San Diego. Designed by Gensler, the initial $265 million phase of construction will create two fully equipped research buildings linked by a central plaza. The all-electric structures will offer a total of 500,000 sf of lab, office, and conference space for biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants.

Breakthrough Properties began construction in May of 2023 on a 223,000-sf facility in Philadelphia. KieranTimberlake designed the nine-story life sciences building with open floorplates and highly flexible lab zones that can accommodate diverse programs. Delivered by Hunter Roberts, the development will include elevated terraces, collaboration spaces, a fitness center, and a café and lounge. 

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.

Sterling Bay completed construction in March of 2023 on a 320,000-sf life sciences center in Chicago. Designed by Gensler to promote collaboration and innovation, the eight-story building provides Class A lab and office environments in the heart of the planned Lincoln Yards mixed-use district. With 33' by 40' column-free bays, the 285,000-rsf project offers flexible floorplates of approximately 42,000 sf supported by two dedicated outdoor air systems.

Longfellow Real Estate Partners broke ground in February of 2023 on Avia Labs in Millbrae, Calif. Designed by Flad Architects, the 479,000-sf life science facility will provide 315,000 rsf of Class A lab and office space arranged in a 50:50 ratio. The six-story building will also house state-of-the-art conference rooms, a fitness center, and a publicly accessible café. JLL has secured a $310 million construction loan for the project, which will integrate an advanced HVAC system supplying 12 air changes per hour.

Moderna will break ground in mid-2023 on a £150 million complex for the creation of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics in the United Kingdom. Located on the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) will comprise two 145,000-sf buildings. The Drug Substance Manufacturing Unit will leverage next-generation automation systems to produce high volumes of vaccine materials, accompanied by an early-stage R&D hub that will support clinical trials.

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.

Gattuso Development Partners and Vigilant Holdings broke ground in February of 2023 on a $450 million life sciences center in Philadelphia. Located in the University City district on the campus of Drexel University, the 11-story, 519,647-rsf building will provide wet and dry research labs for the creation of novel therapeutics and medical technologies. Drexel will occupy 60,000 sf in the collaborative structure to enable the growth of core R&D functions and selected academic programs.

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.

The Hurley Group has transformed an existing office building in New Haven to create the Elm City Bioscience Center. Designed by Svigals + Partners, the adaptive reuse project offers over 100,000 sf of leasable research space for startup companies. Featuring BSL-1 and BSL-2 environments, the eight-story biotech hub provides lab suites with adjacent work areas, meeting rooms, and break rooms. Advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems enable the structure’s 12,000-sf floor plates to easily adapt to changing requirements and configurations.

Mispro Biotech Services is building a 10,000-sf contract vivarium in Boston's Seaport District. The state-of-the-art facility will enable life science companies of all sizes to conduct preclinical drug development studies on rodents with the support of Mispro’s husbandry services, technical expertise, and regulatory compliance oversight.

The United States Congress passed Senate Bill 5002 in late 2022 to allow methods other than animal testing to be employed to establish drug efficacy and safety. Dubbed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, the legislation supports the inclusion of cell-based assays, computer models, and microphysiological systems such as organ chips in preclinical testing operations. The bill also rescinds a stipulation that animal studies must be used when seeking a license for a biological product that is biosimilar or interchangeable with another product.

Cal State East Bay broke ground in December of 2022 on the $30 million Applied Sciences Center in Hayward, Calif. Designed by SmithGroup, the 22,165-sf facility will provide flexible classrooms for active learning, a technology innovation hub, and interdisciplinary research space for programs in computer science and engineering. Open-concept laboratories will allow multiple student and faculty teams to engage in collaborative discovery.

Lincoln Property Company and FCP are constructing the Colorado Research Exchange (CoRE) in Broomfield to provide leading-edge lab and office environments for biomedical, pharmaceutical, and technology companies. Designed by HKS Architects, the 461,500-rsf complex will include three structures ranging from 114,000 sf to 173,000 sf. Supported by advanced HVAC systems and emergency backup generators, this innovation ecosystem will offer leasable floor plates of up to 40,000 sf with ceiling heights between 14 and 18 feet.