Biotechnology

E4H Architecture presented a webinar on modular facilities for accelerating vaccine development on May 8, 2020. Now available as an on-demand recording, the exciting session is led by Jeff Schantz, Director of Health Sciences and Technology at E4H. Jeff reviews planning strategies for adapting multi-therapeutic cGMP/BSL-3 cleanroom modules for SARS-CoV-2 response and cell therapy development. Presentation topics include regulatory guidelines, HVAC requirements, design and flow considerations, and decontamination strategies.

Exicure, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm, has leased 30,000 sf in The Labs in Chicago. Accommodating headquarters and research operations relocated from Skokie, Ill., the facility will accelerate the creation of innovative therapies for genetic disorders, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. 

The Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (VIMC) is being constructed on an accelerated schedule in Oxford in the United Kingdom. Ground was broken on the £66 million project in April of 2020 and occupancy is expected in 2021, a year earlier than previously planned.

Novo Nordisk completed a $5.1 million tenant renovation and expansion project in March of 2020 in Fremont, Calif. In just four months, MAI Construction remodeled the subleased 44,000-sf facility to provide Asterias Biotherapeutics with leading-edge research, production, and office spaces to support the creation of innovative stem cell therapies. The four-phase project included the construction of new cGMP Grade B manufacturing labs, as well as a materials lift and canopy for the area's shipping and receiving area.

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering has announced the 2020 Facility of the Year Awards category winners. The awards include:

VACUUBRAND is offering continuing education courses approved by the American Institute of Architects and Green Business Certification Inc. Providing engineers and designers with the skills to create sustainable, high-performance laboratories, each course is available as a general webinar, a private webinar, or as an on-demand learning experience. AIA members will receive one LU/HSW (Health-Safety-Welfare learning unit) for each one-hour course.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is constructing an $800 million manufacturing campus in East Greenbush, N.Y. The complex is now in the third and final phase of development, which includes an $188 million, 346,000-sf production facility; a 240,000-sf lab and office building; and a six-story, 1,050-space parking garage. BBL Construction Services is managing the project with completion expected by 2022.

The University of Lincoln broke ground in March of 2020 on the Centre of Excellence in Agri-Food Technology in the United Kingdom. Supporting the development of new technologies and resources for the region's agribusiness sector, the building will provide microbiology and chemistry labs, a sophisticated test kitchen and sensory suite, seminar rooms, and collaboration spaces. Willmott Dixon was awarded the £7 million construction contract for the innovation center, which will accommodate a community of leading industrial scientists and their support teams.

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies began construction in March of 2020 on a $14.5 million campus in Billingham in the United Kingdom. Designed by Ryder Architecture, the project will support the creation of innovative biologic, vaccine, and gene therapy products. Accommodating approximately 300 employees, the campus will feature a 42,000-sf office building with an inviting welcome center. Completion is expected in March of 2021. Additional R&D laboratories and manufacturing facilities will be delivered in a subsequent phase of development. 

Amicus Therapeutics opened the $25 million Global Research and Gene Therapy Center of Excellence in March of 2020 in Philadelphia. Accommodating up to 200 employees, the 75,000-sf project provides collaborative labs and offices to support the discovery and development of new therapies for rare metabolic diseases.

East Carolina University is constructing the $90 million Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building in Greenville, N.C. Designed by Lord Aeck Sargent, the 141,500-sf facility will provide wet bench and computational labs for programs in biotechnology, biophysics, biofuels, environmental engineering, imaging, and sensor development. Enabling students to engage in collaborative research with academic and industry partners, the four-story structure will include classrooms, lecture halls, administrative offices, core labs, and support spaces.

Audentes Therapeutics is planning to construct a $109 million gene therapy manufacturing facility in Sanford, N.C. The 135,000-sf project will support the production of genetic medicines based on adeno-associated virus vectors for the treatment of rare neuromuscular diseases. The center is expected to be operational by 2021. Audentes Therapeutics is a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma.

Athenex is constructing a $210 million pharmaceutical plant in Dunkirk, N.Y. Supporting the production of advanced cancer therapies, the 409,000-sf complex will provide research, office, manufacturing, and warehouse space. General contractor Exyte broke ground on the facility in May of 2018, and commercial operations will commence at the site in early 2022. The project is part of a strategic infrastructure development plan to enable Athenex to offer vertically integrated oncology services from discovery through marketing.

Merck KGaA broke ground in early 2020 on the $275 Biotech Development Center in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. Constructed adjacent to the company's existing commercial manufacturing campus, the 169,000-sf project will provide advanced research, development, and production facilities to support the creation of innovative biological compounds for clinical studies.

Foghorn Therapeutics broke ground in January of 2020 on its 60,000-sf headquarters in Cambridge, Mass. Located in Kendall Square, the facility will provide chemistry and biology labs, open offices, conference rooms, huddle rooms, and an employee café. Foghorn will occupy over three floors in the building, which is owned by Alexandria Real Estate Equities and managed by CBRE.