The University of California, Irvine opened the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building in February of 2021. Designed by LMN Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 204,750-sf facility houses the Samueli School of Engineering, the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Science, and the School of Physical Sciences.
California State University, Chico dedicated the $101 million Science Building in March of 2021. Designed by SmithGroup with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 110,200-sf structure features active learning classrooms and teaching labs for chemistry, physics, geology, and environmental sciences.
Heriot Watt University began construction in March of 2021 on the National Robotarium in Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. Designed by Michael Laird Architects, the 40,000-sf building will accommodate innovative research programs in robotics, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence. Created in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the center of excellence will enable academics, engineers, and industry partners to address a wide range of global challenges.
Foghorn Therapeutics completed construction in March of 2021 on its 60,000-sf headquarters in Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass. Spanning three renovated floors in the 500 Technology Square building, the collaborative facility provides leading-edge environments to support crucial biomedical research including chemistry and biology labs, open offices, conference rooms, and huddle rooms. TRIA designed the fast-track project, which was built by Wise Construction with R.W.
North Carolina State University completed construction in February of 2021 on the $150 million Fitts-Woolard Hall in Raleigh. The 225,000-sf teaching and research facility provides over 100 classrooms and laboratories for the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering and the Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Brandywine Realty Trust began construction in March of 2021 on the $287 million West Tower at Schuylkill Yards in Philadelphia. The 28-story, 570,000-sf structure will provide 200,000 sf of laboratory and office space for biomedical and life sciences companies, as well as 9,000 sf of retail space and 326 luxury apartments. On the ninth floor, a 29,000-sf lifestyle club will offer a sophisticated fitness center, a swimming pool, lounges, conference rooms, and co-working venues.
James Cook University began construction in March of 2021 on the AUD$94 million Technology Innovation Complex in Townsville, Queensland. Designed by KIRK Architects in association with i4 Architecture and Charles Wright Architects, the four-story, 101,180-sf building will provide flexible multimodal environments for STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Vibalogics is creating a 110,000-sf facility for the production of oncolytic viruses, viral vector vaccines, and viral vector gene therapy products in Boxborough, Mass. Supporting late-phase clinical and commercial manufacturing operations, the highly flexible structure will include 2,000-liter bioreactors, multiple cGMP production suites, offices, warehouse space, and labs for research, development, and quality control. The $150 million project involves the renovation of an existing R&D building previously occupied by Cisco Systems.
Texas Biomedical Research Institute is planning to construct the $10 million Nonhuman Primate Animal Facility in San Antonio. The 45,000-sf building will provide the Southwest National Primate Research Center with additional laboratories and animal housing environments, enabling TBRI to double its population of rhesus macaques. The United States currently faces a shortage of nonhuman primates for biomedical research, with the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for animal models to test the safety and efficacy of new therapies, vaccines, and diagnostics.
The life sciences sector is experiencing an era of unprecedented growth driven by a surge in both public and private funding combined with a post-pandemic sense of urgency and market opportunity. According to a report released by Newmark in January 2021, more than 36 million sf of new construction is expected to be delivered in the nation’s top 14 life science markets, as life science investments more than triple. While demand for life science and biotech facilities has been growing steadily over the past decade, the COVID-19 crisis heightened national awareness around the need for increased research, diagnostic, and domestic manufacturing capabilities. Investors are also seeing significant potential in the future of personalized medicine, genomics, and other life science-related fields, as emerging technologies and research disciplines converge.
Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the fourth quarter of 2020. Key points include:
Construction Prices: Remain flat through Q4 of 2020, with one in ten projects showing cost reductions with strong contractor coverage across the board.
Fed Watch: The Federal Reserve continued monetary stimulus.
Architectural Billings: Q4 has returned to growth in inquiries; however, three quarters of billing declines in 2020 will result in a lower volume for the first half of 2021.
The University of British Columbia is planning to construct the CAD$136 million School of Biomedical Engineering Building on the Point Grey campus in Vancouver. The 151,305-gsf facility will accommodate teaching and research labs, collaboration spaces, meeting rooms, and offices. Featuring innovative learning venues for undergraduate and graduate programs, the building will provide classrooms, a 250-seat lecture hall, and a central atrium for informal learning and interaction.
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.
