Pharmaceutical

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.

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.

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.

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) opened the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in December of 2022 in Inchinnan in the United Kingdom. Situated in the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, the £88 million facility features sophisticated GMP environments where new pharmaceutical production methods can be proven at scale.

Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the third quarter of 2022. Key points include:

Thor Equities opened a 350,000-sf research facility in Jersey City in October of 2022. Designed by SGA, the adaptive reuse project transformed a former toothpaste factory into a vibrant R&D center offering leasable lab and office environments. Featuring a selection of suites with infrastructure, casework, and equipment already installed, the eight-story structure integrates flexible floor plates, multiple utility grids, an onsite life safety generator, and 125 underground parking spaces.

King Street Properties broke ground in October of 2022 on the $915 million Allston LabWorks complex in Boston. Designed by DiMella Shaffer, the vibrant life sciences campus will provide 534,000 sf of leading-edge lab and office space across two research buildings. Standing six and eight stories high, the highly efficient structures will feature generous floor-to-floor heights to accommodate sophisticated instrumentation.

Amgen opened a 245,000-sf R&D center in South San Francisco in October of 2022. Located on the Gateway of Pacific life sciences campus in Oyster Point, the leased facility was designed by Flad Architects and developed by BioMed Realty. Featuring modular wet and molecular labs, the nine-story tower accommodates Amgen's research programs in oncology, inflammation, and cardiometabolic diseases. Flexible floor plates integrate lab and office functions, with open work spaces and movable furnishings promoting collaboration and interaction.

Johnson & Johnson opened its San Francisco Bay Campus in September of 2022 in Brisbane, Calif. Accommodating up to 400 employees, the 200,000-sf facility bridges key scientific and technological capabilities by collocating the biomedical research activities of subsidiary firm Janssen Pharmaceuticals with J&J's innovation and technology divisions. The collaborative R&D hub houses leading-edge laboratories, flexible office environments, and space for joint development with industry partners.