Biotechnology

The University of Washington opened the $87.8 million Nanoengineering & Sciences Building in December of 2017 in Seattle. Designed by ZGF, the 90,300-gsf interdisciplinary facility provides advanced research and teaching spaces for the departments of bioengineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and materials sciences. Strategically sited and constructed to minimize vibration, the building is located adjacent to the existing Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute to foster collaboration.

The University of Manchester began construction in December of 2017 on the £235 million Henry Royce Institute for Materials Science and Innovation in the United Kingdom. Designed by NBBJ, the nine-story, 172,000-sf facility will provide sophisticated laboratories and instrumentation suites to promote collaborative research and development with industry partners.

Monsanto celebrated the completion of a $400 million expansion of its Chesterfield Research Center in December of 2017. Designed to accommodate agronomy research programs in biotechnology, plant genetics, data science, and crop protection, the 400,000-sf facility provides a conference center, 13 Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) rooms and 250 research labs.

The University of California, Santa Barbara opened the $86 million BioEngineering Building in October of 2017. Designed by Moore Ruble Yudell Architects to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration, the three-story, 45,000-sf facility provides 17,200 sf of open lab space, a 100-seat auditorium, an atrium, and offices for faculty, graduate students, and administrative staff.

MilliporeSigma opened its 280,000-sf Life Sciences Center in October of 2017 in Burlington, Mass. Accommodating approximately 100 employees, the facility provides offices and a collaboration center for customers to engage in training, troubleshooting, and experimentation activities. Additionally, a biodevelopment lab enabling small-scale pharmaceutical manufacturers to conduct early-stage clinical trials will open at the site by January of 2018. The Life Sciences Center is located in a five-story leased facility and represents an investment of $115 million.

The University of Michigan is planning to begin construction in spring of 2018 on the $90 million Engineering Laboratory Building (ELB) in Dearborn. Designed by SmithGroupJJR, the 120,000-sf project will include 63,000 sf of new construction and 57,000 sf of renovated space. Promoting collaborative learning and innovation, the multidisciplinary facility will offer 28 labs, 23 faculty offices, and five general classrooms.

Sartorius Stedim Cellca is constructing a $35 million Cell Culture Technology Center in Ulm, Germany. Located at Science Park III in Eselsberg, the lab and office facility will support the development of cell culture and protein production technologies. Completion is expected in 2019. 

Vanderbilt University’s new Engineering and Science Building (ESB) brings the physical sciences and engineering together to expand interdisciplinary research in biomedical engineering, energy, and materials; recruit faculty in areas of nanotechnology and environmental engineering; and create a new undergraduate research-focused culture on campus.

Roche Diagnostics has leased research space in NB Development Group’s Boston Landing. Roche will take occupancy of the approximately 29,000-sf facility, which is located in a 246,405-sf structure at 80 Guest Street, in early 2018. Proteostasis Therapeutics will also occupy a similar footprint in the building in early 2018.

The Abbey Group is planning to construct Exchange South End, a 1.6 million-sf bioscience research campus located on the site of the Boston Flower Exchange. Designed by Stantec, the mixed-use development will provide approximately 841,000 sf of research space and 640,000 of office space. Arranged around a 30,000-sf public park, the four-building project will include:

SAB Biotherapeutics began construction in August of 2017 on an agricultural production facility for antibody therapeutics. The 80-acre ‘pharm’ will accommodate transgenic cattle which produce plasma in reaction to a vaccine, providing a source of natural human polyclonal antibodies. The facility is located adjacent to SAB’s existing corporate headquarters and is slated for completion in spring of 2018.

Wentworth Institute of Technology is building the $55 million Multipurpose Academic Building on its Boston campus. Designed by Leers Weinzapfel Associates Architects, the 75,000-sf facility will provide classrooms, labs, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and collaborative teaching and learning spaces. The four-story building will accommodate programs in biomedical, biological, and civil engineering, as well as housing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. The construction manager for the project is Gilbane Building Company.

Solano Community College opened its $34.5 million biotechnology training building in August of 2017 in Vacaville, Calif. Designed by SmithGroupJJR with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 32,200-sf facility supports a four-year degree program in biotech manufacturing. Strategically sited adjacent to Genentech’s Vacaville campus, the building features simulated production suites for immersive education and training. The general contractor was Rudolph & Sletten.

BioLegend broke ground in August of 2017 on a $100 million expansion of its Sorrento Mesa campus in San Diego. Designed by Delawie to optimize workflow adjacencies, the project includes renovation of an existing 44,000-sf facility and construction of a four-story, 90,000-sf lab and office building and adjacent parking structure. Featuring flexible open labs to enhance collaboration, the new facility will include an atrium and a 500-person multipurpose room that opens onto a green roof. The central plant will also be expanded.

Pitt Community College dedicated the $17 million Walter & Marie Williams Science Center Building in August of 2017 in Winterville, N.C. Supporting STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the 79,000-sf facility provides 11 labs, 10 classrooms, and a 120-seat lecture auditorium. The building also includes a biotechnology center housing a pharmaceutical training suite, a cell culture lab, a cleanroom, teaching labs, and research space. The duration of construction was two years.