Research and Development

The University of Texas at Dallas and UT Southwestern broke ground on the Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Building in November of 2021. Located on the East Campus of UT Southwestern Medical Center, the 150,000-sf facility will strategically collocate complementary research programs to foster the discovery and development of innovative medical solutions.

East Carolina University opened the $90 million Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building in November of 2021 in Greenville, N.C. Designed by Lord Aeck Sargent, the 141,500-sf facility provides leading-edge wet and dry labs for programs in biotechnology, bioprocessing engineering, biophysics, environmental engineering, biofuels, plant biology, environmental biology, and imaging and sensor development.

Autolus Therapeutics broke ground in November of 2021 on a £66 million cell manufacturing facility in Stevenage in the United Kingdom. Accommodating the production of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells for the treatment of cancer, the 80,730-sf project is being built by Merit using modular offsite construction methodology to significantly accelerate the construction timeline and reduce carbon emissions.

The University of Oxford began construction in November of 2021 on the £200 million Life and Mind Building in the United Kingdom. Designed by NBBJ to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, the 270,000-sf facility will house the departments of experimental psychology and biology, which will include space for programs in zoology and plant sciences.

Amgen broke ground in November of 2021 on a $365 million biomanufacturing plant in New Albany, Ohio. Created by the design-build team of CRB and Turner Construction, the smart factory will leverage advanced automation technologies to optimize the assembly and packaging of injectable medicines. The 270,000-sf facility will accommodate 400 new employees and an array of collaborative and industrial robots.

Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the third quarter of 2021. Key points include:

Sterling Bay began construction in October of 2021 on a 320,000-sf life sciences center in Chicago. Designed by Gensler, the eight-story ALLY building will provide leading-edge lab and office environments for biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants. With 15’ floor-to-floor heights, the 280,000-rsf project will offer flexible floor plates of approximately 42,000 sf.

The University of Arizona began construction in October of 2021 on a $42 million renovation and expansion of the historic Old Chemistry Building in Tucson. Designed by Shepley Bulfinch and Poster Mirto McDonald, the project will provide the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with 55,000 sf of renovated space featuring four new collaborative classrooms, three teaching studios for online instruction, a visualization cave for immersive virtual learning, and technology-rich research labs.

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies broke ground in October of 2021 on a $2 billion production facility in Holly Springs, N.C. Enabling large-scale cell culture manufacturing for the creation of bulk drug substances, the structure will accommodate eight 20,000-liter bioreactors with the expansion potential for a further 24 20,000-liter bioreactors to meet market demand. Powered by clean energy, the sustainably designed complex will feature advanced systems for waste disposal and recycling.

The University of Vermont is building the $45 million Firestone Medical Research Building in Burlington. Designed by Payette and Black River Design, the collaborative 62,250-sf structure will provide the Larner College of Medicine with core facilities, flexible labs, conference rooms, and support spaces.

The University of Arizona broke ground in September of 2021 on the $99 million Grand Challenges Research Building in Tucson. Designed by ZGF Architects and BWS Architects, the 115,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will provide flexible labs for programs in optics, quantum computing, advanced communications, and biomedicine.

Moderna is partnering with Alexandria Real Estate Equities to create a 462,000-rsf headquarters and research facility at the Alexandria Center development at One Kendall Square. Accelerating the discovery and development of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, the collaborative structure will feature leading-edge R&D labs, sophisticated offices, and engaging gathering spaces.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is planning to begin construction in 2023 on a $225 million facility for the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. Catalyzing synergies between academic researchers and industry partners, the seven-story, 300,000-sf building will provide a dynamic nexus for Wisconsin’s growing tech ecosystem while meeting increased demand for programs in robotics, cybersecurity, software design, and machine learning.

Santa Clara University opened the $253.5 million Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation in September of 2021. Designed by ZGF Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 270,000-sf facility provides leading-edge teaching and research environments for STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

AstraZeneca is planning to construct a $360 million manufacturing center in the Blanchardstown region of Dublin. Located on the Alexion Campus in College Park, the next-generation facility will leverage advanced process technologies and digital innovation solutions to produce small-molecule APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients). Significantly reducing commercialization lead times, the sustainably designed structure will integrate lean manufacturing practices to lower operating costs and reduce carbon emissions.