Trammell Crow Co. to Develop Maryland Life Science Campus
The firm has signed a 99-year ground lease at Johns Hopkins University’s Belward Campus to build an initial 757,000 square feet of trophy lab, research and discovery space.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD – Global commercial real estate developer Trammell Crow Co. plans to develop a life science campus in Montgomery County, MD.
Located in the county’s Shady Grove area, at Johns Hopkins University’s Belward Campus, the development, titled the Labs at Belward, will initially feature 757,000 square feet of trophy lab, research and discovery space across three buildings. Construction on the buildings will begin June 2023, with an expected completion date in early 2025.
For the development, TCC entered into a 99-year ground lease with Johns Hopkins University for 20.6-acres of its Belward Campus.
The project has the potential to grow to 1.6 million square feet across seven buildings.
The development aligns with Montgomery County’s 2010 Great Seneca Science Corridor master plan to create a dynamic live/work community that supports the life science industry. Through the project, TCC aims to advance the vision for a world-class life science, research and development and biodiscovery campus.
“The Labs at Belward is a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem within a campus environment akin to a collegiate setting,” says Eric Fischer, managing director of TCC’s MidAtlantic office. “The thought-leading design of this project will enable world-class life science users to have flexibility for future growth and expansion. The location within Shady Grove also places the labs in Maryland’s preeminent life science node, close to innovative companies that are contributing to the area’s life sciences sector growth.”
Fischer adds, “Most importantly, we appreciate the opportunity to work in close alignment with both the Johns Hopkins University and with Montgomery County to activate this critically important site in a manner that advances the University’s and the County’s shared life sciences vision.”
Designed to achieve LEED Gold standard, the Labs at Belward will support BSL Category-2 laboratory functions. The buildings will feature 18-foot and 16-foot ceiling heights, outdoor balconies and terraces, tenant amenities, supporting retail and secured structured parking.
The project will also be supported by a six-acre public park that will include an amphitheater, recreational fields and two retail pavilions totaling 6,000 square feet. TCC additionally plans to activate large wooded buffer areas by installing several miles of bike and walking trails, while preserving natural elements at the site.
Gensler will serve as the project’s architect and the Clark Construction Group will serve as the general contractor. TCC will additionally partner with Soltesz Inc., Lerch Early Brewer, James Posey Associates Inc., Thornton Tomasetti and OJB for the development.
CBRE’s life sciences team is managing the marketing and leasing for the project.
“We eagerly await the realization of the Labs at Belward as an integral component of the overall vision for the Belward Camus of the Johns Hopkins University” says Mitch Bonanno, chief real estate officer for the Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. “We are delighted that this milestone ground lease and project will serve to facilitate the goals of the Great Seneca Science Corridor master plan and enable many of the awaited community benefits intended to be provided by the Belward Campus as part of the 2011 Campus plan approval.”