Research and Development

AstraZeneca is planning to construct a $360 million manufacturing center in the Blanchardstown region of Dublin. Located on the Alexion Campus in College Park, the next-generation facility will leverage advanced process technologies and digital innovation solutions to produce small-molecule APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients). Significantly reducing commercialization lead times, the sustainably designed structure will integrate lean manufacturing practices to lower operating costs and reduce carbon emissions.

Virginia Tech broke ground in fall of 2021 on the first academic building on its Innovation Campus in Alexandria. Designed by SmithGroup, the 300,000-gsf facility will offer experiential learning environments, maker spaces, flexible multipurpose areas, faculty offices, and research and testing labs for the school's graduate programs in computer science and engineering.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals broke ground in August of 2021 on the 45,000-sf Advanced Development Center in Dartmouth, Mass. Enabling the production of clinical-stage vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, the BSL-2 facility will utilize single-use bioreactors and purification suites for optimal efficiency and flexibility. The cGMP center will also offer state-of-the-art research, development, and analytical suites. Approximately 70 scientists, technicians, and manufacturing staff will work in the turnkey building. 

The U.S. Department of Energy will begin construction in fall of 2021 on the $19.5 million Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) in Golden, Colo. Located on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's South Table Mountain campus, the 15,700-sf facility will provide 5,500 sf of flexible lab space for cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, bioscience, and engineering.

Trinity College Dublin began construction in September of 2021 on the Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry in Ireland. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to promote collaboration and innovation, the six-story, 78,577-sf building will be shared by the schools of engineering, natural sciences, and computer science and statistics. Enabling a dynamic pedagogy of project-based learning, the $71 million interdisciplinary facility will offer maker spaces, studios, and interactive classrooms to support Trinity's Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies initiative.

Ivanhoé Cambridge and Lendlease will break ground in summer of 2022 on a 320,000-sf life sciences facility in Boston. Designed by SGA, the nine-story building will provide state-of-the-art labs, offices, and collaboration spaces for biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants. Offering BSL-1 and BSL-2 research environments, the amenity-rich structure will include a multipurpose ground floor, a parking garage, and numerous outdoor areas.

The University of Maryland broke ground in August of 2021 on the $116 million Chemistry Building in College Park. Designed by Ballinger, the flexible 105,000-sf structure will provide 34 modular research labs with robust climate controls and vibration mitigation technologies. Accelerating innovation in advanced materials, nanoscience, energy storage, quantum chemistry, and drug discovery and delivery, the project will include two core facilities, 12 meeting and huddle rooms, open office environments, and 13,000 sf of collaboration space.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology opened a $29 million academic building in September of 2021 in Terre Haute, Ind. Designed by RATIO Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 70,000-sf facility provides engineering design studios, flexible classrooms, collaborative workspaces, breakout rooms, and faculty innovation spaces.

The Fitzsimons Innovation Community broke ground in August of 2021 on Bioscience 5 in Aurora, Colo. Strategically located next to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the 90,000-sf building will enable biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants to manufacture next-generation cell and gene therapy products on a commercial scale. Saunders Construction is the general contractor for the highly flexible facility, which is slated for occupancy in spring of 2022.

Rice University began site work in summer of 2021 for the $152 million Engineering and Science Building in Houston. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill with Scientia Architects as laboratory design consultant, the 266,000-sf structure will provide state-of-the-art labs, maker spaces, seminar rooms, interactive gathering areas, classrooms, and a dedicated prototyping facility. Flexible office areas will include touchdown spaces for faculty, graduate students, and staff.

The Davis Companies and Boston Development Group broke ground in August of 2021 on a purpose-built life sciences building in Watertown, Mass. The joint-venture project will offer 224,000 rsf of Class A research space for biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, the facility will provide next-generation laboratories, offices, a fitness center, a shared rooftop balcony, six private outdoor areas, and ample indoor parking accessible directly beneath the building.

Howard University will begin construction in 2023 on the National Research Center for Health Disparities in Washington. Accelerating the discovery of new solutions for chronic illnesses, the 260,000-sf facility will provide sophisticated laboratory and office environments where academic investigators can engage in collaborative discovery with pharmaceutical companies and biomedical research organizations.

Precision NanoSystems is constructing its global headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia. Located in the four-story Evolution Block building, the 75,000-sf leased facility will feature a GMP biomanufacturing center for the production of genetic medicines and RNA-based therapeutics. The federal government has contributed CAD$25.1 million in funding towards the project's construction to increase the nation's domestic supply of COVID-19 vaccines and prepare for future pandemics.

Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the second quarter of 2021. Key points include:

Florida State University broke ground in August of 2021 on the $88 million Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building in Tallahassee, Fla. Designed by HGA as an 'idea factory' for materials science discovery, the 116,000-sf project will provide open labs, core facilities, and collaboration venues for up to 30 research teams. The highly flexible and adaptable structure will collocate investigators with expertise in biomedical engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, condensed matter physics, and device prototyping.