Hobbs Brook Opens Boston-Area Life Science Facility

225 Wyman St. Image courtesy of Hobbs Brook Management

Hobbs Brook Real Estate LLC has officially opened 225 Wyman St., a 507,000-square-foot ground-up Class A life science development in Waltham, Mass. The project development team included Gilbane Building Co. and Gensler.

Boston had been a hotspot for life sciences long before the pandemic, but the increased demand for lab space over the past two years has propelled the metro among the most active cities for office development in the U.S. In May, Boston bore the country’s second-highest office development pipeline after Manhattan, reaching 12.3 million square feet, according to CommercialEdge data.

READ ALSO: What Rising Interest Rates Mean for Net Lease Investors

Situated along the Route 128 technology belt, the five-story facility was designed to comprise 60 percent lab and 40 percent office space. Set to achieve LEED Gold certification, the building topped out in November 2020.

The tenant roster that committed to the facility includes R&D and manufacturing company ElevateBio BaseCamp, influenza vaccine researcher Seqirus, as well as AI company Pegasystems. Gilbane is also conducting the construction management services for lab tenant fit-outs.

The property offers a 3-acre landscaped courtyard with designated outdoor workspaces, as well as a separate, 1,495-space parking garage. Other amenities include a 150-seat conference space, a 10,000-square-foot fitness center, dining area and cafe.

In early June, Gilbane topped out another Boston-area life science building—the first structure of the Union Square redevelopment in Somerville, Mass. Dubbed 10 Prospect, the mixed-use life science facility will comprise 194,000 square feet and is developed by a joint venture between RAS Development, Magellan Development Group, Cypress Equity Investments and USAA Real Estate. Set for delivery next year, the Class A property is also designed to achieve LEED Gold certification.