Research and Development

Boston Properties broke ground in July of 2021 on a $105 million life sciences facility in Waltham, Mass. Designed by Stantec, 180 CityPoint will provide leasable lab and office environments with exceptional access to natural light and views. Featuring shared meeting spaces and a collaborative co-working nexus, the six-story, 329,000-sf building will include an expansive roof deck, a food hall, a wellness center, an indoor basketball court, and a 900-car parking structure.

The global life sciences industry has been on the rise, growing more rapidly than ever over the past decade—well before the pandemic struck. In fact, its trajectory only accelerated throughout 2020 and into early 2021—with demand for its products surging and access to capital continuing to greatly expand in both periods. A record $70 billion of private and public capital (mostly venture capital and initial public offerings) poured into life sciences-related companies in North America in 2020, a 93 percent increase from the previous record of $36 billion received in 2018. And if investment continues at the pace we’ve seen in the first quarter of 2021 (already totaling $32.9 billion), we could see somewhere in the area of $90 billion raised this year alone. With COVID-19 challenging the sector last year like never before, the industry has clearly proven itself, sparking a light that illuminated a better way to work, collaborate, and innovate toward the hope of a vaccinated future. The speed at which COVID-19 vaccines have been developed and rolled out is a huge achievement for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and is also a testament to the power of global collaboration. Now that we know what’s achievable in a relatively short amount of time, many will ponder what’s next for the life sciences industry. What else is it capable of doing? With the recent success of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine technology, many researchers are increasingly seeing expanded possibilities in the technology to fight against infectious diseases, cancer, and more. This acceleration of the life sciences industry comes at a critical time, demonstrating the sector’s value and agility when the stakes have been so high.

GE Aviation broke ground in June of 2021 on an advanced manufacturing center in Beavercreek, Ohio. Sited on 53 acres in the Miami Valley Research Park, the 280,000-sf structure will enable the development and production of gas turbine engine components and mechanical systems for a variety of industries, including aviation, space, defense, oil, and gas. Integrating high-performance glazing and insulated concrete wall panels, the steel-framed facility will leverage lean manufacturing technologies to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.

The University of Illinois at Chicago broke ground in July of 2021 on the $118 million Computer Design Research and Learning Center. Designed by LMN Architects and Booth Hansen to enhance interaction and intellectual exchange, the 135,000-sf facility will provide 35 research labs, 15 classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, an auditorium, and a flexible event venue. The inviting structure will act as a new hub of campus activity with a five-story daylit atrium and an undergraduate learning and community center.

Nexus Pharmaceuticals opened a $100 million manufacturing facility in July of 2021 in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Increasing the nation's domestic supply of life-saving medicines, the 84,000-sf structure will produce specialty and generic injectable drugs, including vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The three-story building features an advanced isolator system and multiple lyophilization machines to ensure maximum product protection and sterility.

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health broke ground in June of 2021 on the $750 million Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center in New Brunswick. Designed by HOK, the 510,000-sf structure will enable the consolidation of key cancer services in a single integrated location.

Pennsylvania State University broke ground in July of 2021 on the West 1 engineering building in University Park. Located on the West Campus, the 290,000-gsf facility will provide general-purpose classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, and research and teaching labs for programs in aerospace engineering, architectural engineering, acoustics, and civil and environmental engineering. Strategically grouping research programs by theme will dramatically increase the utilization of shared spaces.

Northeastern University is constructing the 350,000-sf EXP building in Boston. Complementing the adjacent Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, the highly collaborative facility will provide active learning environments, teaching and research labs, a maker space, undergraduate chemistry labs, executive offices, a café, and a faculty club. Housing the Institute for Experiential Robotics and the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things, the eight-story structure will accelerate the development of advanced humanoid robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles.

DivcoWest broke ground in June of 2021 on a 375,000-sf life sciences facility in the Cambridge Crossing innovation district. Designed by Ennead Architects with Jacobs Consultancy as the architect of record, the collaborative building will provide leading-edge research environments for biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants. Comprising ten floors of lab space, two penthouse levels, and multiple outdoor terraces, the project will offer generous ceiling heights with minimal interior columns for optimal flexibility.

The University of Arizona broke ground in June of 2021 on the $85 million Applied Research Building in Tucson. Collocating investigators from four colleges and eight departments, the three-story, 89,000-sf structure will offer sophisticated laboratories for engineering, applied physical sciences, and advanced manufacturing.

Hofstra University broke ground in June of 2021 on the $75 million Science and Innovation Center in Hempstead, N.Y. Designed by HLW, the 75,000-sf facility will feature technology-rich labs and classrooms for the DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science. The project will also provide the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies with advanced learning environments for interprofessional education including state-of-the-art simulation suites and clinical teaching labs.

AbCellera Biologics is planning to break ground in late 2021 on a manufacturing plant for therapeutic antibodies in Vancouver, British Columbia. Supported by $175.6 million in federal funding, the 130,000-sf project will cost approximately CAD$240 million to build. Offering advanced production suites, labs, offices, and warehouse space, the GMP facility will enhance the country's ability to create vaccines in response to future pandemic threats.

Harvey Mudd College recently completed the $30 million McGregor Computer Science Center in Claremont, Calif. Designed by Steinberg Hart, the three-story, 36,000-sf facility collocates the department of computer science with a campus-wide maker space to create a vibrant hub for project-based learning. An expansive lobby with integrated study and interaction areas creates a welcoming hub for multidisciplinary discovery.

Lehigh University is expanding the Rauch School of Business with the construction of a $38.2 million facility in Bethlehem, Pa. Designed by Voith & Mactavish Architects, the 74,000-sf structure will provide technology-rich environments for interactive learning and discovery.

Winstanley Enterprises broke ground in June of 2021 on a $100 million bioscience research center in New Haven, Conn. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, the 10-story, 525,000-sf facility will provide leasable laboratory and office environments for biomedical companies and academic institutions. Featuring a large public plaza, the collaborative structure will include a 48,000-sf business incubator operated by BioLabs, a conference center, and a STEM classroom for K-12 education programs.