Longfellow Breaks Ground on Avia Labs in Millbrae

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. Targeting both LEED Gold and Fitwel certifications, the all-electric structure will include onsite bike storage, EV charging stations, and a 164,000-sf subterranean parking garage capable of accommodating 450 vehicles. On the third floor, an outdoor terrace with inspiring views will offer a variety of settings for informal collaboration. 

With flexible floorplates ranging from 20,000 to 80,000 sf, the sustainable development will incorporate warm shell infrastructure, dedicated chemical storage areas, a two-bay loading dock, separate freight and passenger elevators, and a mechanical penthouse for tenant equipment. Featuring floor-to-floor heights of up to 15’3", the vibration-mitigated building will leverage a high-performance exterior enclosure with green walls to ensure acoustic isolation from the adjacent CalTrain and BART stations. Level 10 Construction is acting as general contractor with BKF as civil engineer. Completion is expected in early 2025.