Research and Development

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.

The University of Miami Health System is transforming cancer care and research in South Florida with the opening of the Kenneth C. Griffin Cancer Research Building. Representing an investment of over $250 million, the state-of-the-art facility was designed by HOK to seamlessly integrate biomedical discovery with world-class patient treatment. The 244,000-sf structure doubles the footprint of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and provides the Miller School of Medicine with leading-edge research environments for collaborative team science.

The University of California, Los Angeles is constructing the UCLA Research Park to create an engine of innovation and economic growth for Southern California and beyond. The visionary project is transforming the former Westside Pavilion shopping mall into a dynamic destination where basic scientists join with industry experts to advance discovery and commercialization. Acquired by UCLA in December of 2023, the property encompasses more than 1.3 million gsf on 9.2 acres, with two main buildings spanning a total of 700,000 sf connected by an enclosed pedestrian bridge.

The University of Toronto is planning to construct the James and Louise Temerty Building on its St. George Campus to provide the Temerty Faculty of Medicine with modern, collaborative environments for discovery and learning. Standing 11 stories high with two basement levels, the 398,000-gsf facility will offer multiple floors of wet and dry laboratories for interdisciplinary research that will be shared with the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Department of Cell & Systems Biology.

JLL has announced the availability of a 235,000-sf Class A R&D facility in Suffern, N.Y., for sale and/or lease on behalf of Regeneron, a biotechnology company based in Westchester County. Designed by HLW, 1 Avon Place is purpose-built for research and development and offers a highly adaptable layout supported by existing lab, office, and robust technical infrastructure.

Novartis broke ground in February of 2026 on the Biomedical Research Center in San Diego. This nexus for innovation will enable end‑to‑end discovery across key disease areas and technology platforms, joining seamlessly with existing sites including Cambridge, Mass., and Basel, Switzerland. Representing an investment of $1.1 billion, the 466,000-sf facility will drive advances in neuroscience, global health, regenerative medicine, and oncology and age-related diseases.

Roche will expand its leased presence on Harvard University’s Enterprise Research Campus from 30,000 sf to 100,000 sf in Breakthrough Properties’ One Milestone property in Boston. Located in the thriving Allston neighborhood, the Roche Genentech Innovation Center will bring together cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism experts with data science and AI specialists to accelerate drug discovery and development. Construction is nearly complete and phased occupancy will commence in mid-2026.

To maximize scientific synergies and encourage innovation, The Sherwin-Williams Company made the decision to combine two of its largest R&D organizations into a new global R&D center in Brecksville, Ohio. The 600,000-sf facility, named the Morikis Global Technology Center, began hosting some 900 Sherwin-Williams employees—including chemists, engineers, technicians, and support teams—upon opening in December 2025. One of the big goals is to take people from disparate business units that have been historically scattered across multiple buildings and bring them together into a space designed to maximize collaboration and spark creativity.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls opened the Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) in January of 2026. Designed by BWBR Architects, the $117 million building features immersive environments for hands-on discovery. The three-story, 134,560-gsf structure offers a maker space, active learning studios, 12 instructional labs, and three wet research labs. This nexus of experiential education also provides 32 undergraduate research spaces, an optics lab, computational labs, offices, and conference rooms.

Eli Lilly and Company will begin construction in mid-2026 on a $3.5 billion facility in Upper Macungie Township, Pa., for the manufacture of injectable medicines and devices. The project represents the largest investment made by a life sciences company in the state’s history, and will be the largest development ever to rise in the Lehigh Valley. The seven-building complex will enable the production of next-generation weight-loss therapies, including retatrutide, a first-in-class investigational GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon triple hormone receptor agonist.

Genentech, an independent subsidiary of Roche, is expanding the initial investment in its new biomanufacturing facility in Holly Springs, N.C., from $700 million to approximately $2 billion. Originally envisioned as a 700,000-sf complex, the project will now deliver increased production volume and scale capacity, significantly enhancing the company's U.S. supply chain.

The New York State Department of Health has begun construction on the new Wadsworth Center, a $1.7 billion public health laboratory that will transform the state's ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging threats. Designed by HOK, the state-of-the-art facility will consolidate five legacy sites across the Greater Albany area into a single, modern campus. The five-story, 663,000-gsf project is strategically located on the W.

Micron broke ground in January of 2026 on a $100 billion complex for the creation of advanced memory chips in Clay, N.Y. With up to four fabs, the development will be the largest semiconductor facility in the United States and represents the largest private investment in the state's history. The visionary campus will leverage groundbreaking technologies to meet the growing demands of AI systems and devices, driving economic growth and accelerating innovation.

Christopher Newport University opened the Science and Engineering Research Center in January of 2026 in Newport News, Va. Catalyzing innovation and interdisciplinary exchange, the 83,000-sf building was designed by Glavé & Holmes Architecture to provide state-of-the art environments for learning and discovery. The Robotics and Autonomous Systems Lab offers a dedicated assembly zone alongside a two-story open area equipped with a motion capture system for the testing of drones and other technologies.

The University of South Carolina is constructing the School of Medicine Columbia as the centerpiece of its $300 million Health Sciences Campus. Supporting the institution’s evolving approach to medical pedagogy and discovery, the 330,000-sf building will feature active learning classrooms, leading-edge simulation spaces, wet and dry labs, and a health science library.