Research and Development

The National Aeronatics and Space Administration (NASA) will begin construction in late 2025 on the first phase of Exploration Park in Houston. Developed by the American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) and Griffin Partners, the dynamic ecosystem will provide up to 22 facilities with leasable environments for commercial space innovation. Build-to-suit options will range from 50,000 sf to 250,000 sf, with multi-tenant structures offering footprints of 15,000 sf to 100,000 sf.

Construction will begin in fall of 2025 on the first phase of a 1,614,600-sf expansion of the Wellcome Genome Campus in the Hinxton, Cambridgeshire. The transformative project is led by master developer Urban&Civic and will extend the site from 125 to 440 acres. Supported by infrastructure works including roads, bridges, and utility networks, this visionary initiative will also deliver 1,500 homes, a recreation center, a swimming pool, and other amenities.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences opened the Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation in June of 2025. Designed by Harriman, the $31 million project represents a 40 percent increase in the footprint of the nonprofit institution's campus in East Boothbay, Maine. The 25,000-sf expansion offers advanced laboratories for discovery and development where investigators will translate early-stage ideas into novel products and solutions.

Wexford Science & Technology opened a visionary innovation district called The Pearl in Charlotte in June of 2025. Created as a public-private partnership with Advocate Health, Atrium Health, and Ventas, the mixed-use development strategically collocates world-class facilities for medical instruction and training with research environments for leading health technology companies.  

Ivanhoé Cambridge and Lendlease celebrated the completion of a $545 million life sciences center in Boston in June of 2025. Designed by SGA, FORUM strategically integrates Class A laboratory environments with collaborative workspaces and engaging community amenities. The 350,000-rsf facility offers flexible floor plates spanning 50,000 sf, supported by robust infrastructure to meet the demands of next-generation research programs.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center broke ground in May of 2025 on a visionary complex that will collocate groundbreaking biomedical research with world-class patient care in Kansas City. Designed by HDR and Hoefer Welker, the $450 million facility will deliver a comprehensive array of services in a single integrated location, as well as providing direct access to leading-edge clinical trials.

The Government of Canada is investing in federal science to strengthen the safety of air, rail, marine and pipeline transportation systems that Canadians rely on every day. Located in Ottawa, the Transportation Safety and Technology Science (TSTS) hub will transform how federal researchers and private investigators work together by bringing them under one roof. Architecture49 and B+H Architects designed the 226,000-sf facility, which will serve as a shared space for the National Research Council and the Transportation Safety Board.

Morgan State University broke ground in May of 2025 on the $337 million Science Center in Baltimore. Designed by Moody Nolan, CannonDesign, and K. Dixon Architecture, the 246,435-gsf building will become the centerpiece of scientific research and instruction on campus. This new home for the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences will provide 135,539 asf of leading-edge space for interactive learning, innovation, and discovery.

Sanofi opened its new U.S. headquarters in May of 2025 at M Station West in Morristown, New Jersey. Developed by SJP Properties and Scotto Properties, the seven-story, 260,000-sf facility was designed by Gensler to collocate approximately 2,000 employees with leadership roles in business operations, finance, R&D, human resources, technology, general medicines, specialty care, vaccines, and manufacturing and supply.

Gilead Sciences is constructing the Cancer Research Center in Foster City to accelerate the creation of novel solutions for pressing medical challenges. Driven by the company's enterprise master plan, the project is part of a strategic initiative to develop an internal research infrastructure that advances discovery in key focus areas and brings new technological capabilities in-house. The 182,000-sf facility was designed by Gensler to catalyze synergies between 54 clinical programs spanning oncology, inflammation, and virology.

The University of Cambridge opened the Ray Dolby Centre in May of 2025 in the United Kingdom. This purpose-built headquarters for the Department of Physics, also known as the Cavendish Laboratory, will serve as a national research hub and houses the Collaborative R&D Environment (CORDE), a new facility for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey opened the $1 billion Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center in May of 2025 in New Brunswick. Designed by HOK, the 520,000-sf building collocates world-class research environments with welcoming settings for clinical care to optimize patient outcomes.

Old Dominion University broke ground in April of 2025 on the Biological Sciences Building in Norfolk, Va. Representing the largest capital construction project in the institution's history, the $184 million development will enable students and faculty to explore a wide range of biomedical and ecological fields. Ballinger and VMDO Architects designed the 162,586-sf structure, which will provide flexible research labs for up to 30 investigators, teaching labs, core facilities, classrooms, and a 120-seat lecture hall.

AstraZeneca opened a $300 million cell therapy facility in May of 2025 in Rockville, Md. Developed by Alexandria Real Estate Equites, the 84,264-rsf building features specialized environments for the production of chimeric antigen receptor therapies (CAR-T) and T-cell receptor therapies (TCR-T). Next-generation biomanufacturing suites will leverage advanced process controls to create life-saving personalized medicine treatments, spanning every step from culturing and formulation to testing.

Cornell University celebrated the opening of Atkinson Hall in April of 2025 in Ithaca, N.Y. Designed by Lake|Flato and SWBR as a nexus for impact-driven research across disciplinary boundaries, the $54 million facility addresses the diverse needs of four unique programs, all of which are university-wide in scope.