Industry News

Boylston Properties and J.P. Morgan Asset Management began construction in January of 2021 on a 165,600-sf life sciences facility in Watertown, Mass. Located in the Arsenal Yards district, 100 Forge will be the first purpose-built laboratory building in the city. The joint venture development team has secured a $100.1 million construction loan for the project.

Caltech dedicated the $210 million Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Neuroscience Research Building in January of 2021 in Pasadena. Designed by SmithGroup to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, the 150,000-sf facility provides wet, dry, and computational research labs for the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering. Standing three stories above grade with two basement levels, the structure includes teaching labs, a neurotechnology lab, a 150-seat lecture hall, conference rooms, and offices for investigators and staff.

Civica Rx began construction in early 2021 on a $124.5 million pharmaceutical manufacturing center in Petersburg, Va. Created in collaboration with Phlow Corp., the 120,000-sf plant will produce sterile injectables for the treatment of COVID-19, emergency room and intensive-care unit treatments, surgeries, and other serious conditions. The facility will feature steam sterilization capabilities, disposable technologies, and advanced automation systems for visual inspection and packaging.

The University of Texas at San Antonio broke ground in January of 2021 on a $90 million facility for the School of Data Science and the National Security Collaboration Center. Designed by Jacobs and Overland Partners, the six-story, 167,000-sf structure will provide the School of Data Science with 86,000 sf of classrooms, labs, and offices for the departments of computer science, computer engineering, statistics and data sciences, and information systems and cybersecurity.

BioMed Realty is planning to create a life sciences innovation campus in Somerville, Mass. The project includes the renovation of an existing 162,000-sf office building and the construction of new facilities on an adjacent 7.5-acre parcel. Offering leasable environments for biomedical, pharmaceutical, and technology companies, the Assembly Square complex will provide 1.3 million sf of research, corporate, and retail space. The mixed-use development will feature multiple roof terraces and a one-acre public park. BioMed Realty acquired the property in early 2021.