Mayor Menino Joins Lyme Properties in Welcoming Center for Life Science Boston
New facility to provide Longwood Medical Area with access to a world of discovery
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (July 26, 2005) – David Clem, Managing Director and founder of Lyme Properties, one of the country’s oldest and largest life science property developers, today announced the groundbreaking for Lyme’s newest project, the Center for Life Science Boston, to be constructed in the heart of Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. Mr. Clem joined the Honorable Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Carl S. Sloane, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Paul F. Levy, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Jeffrey S. Flier, MD and Chief Academic Officer, all of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, along with a group of world-renowned medical researchers, in acclaiming this state-of- the-art life science research facility, which will be Boston’s largest medical research building.
Addressing leaders from the local medical, life science, business, civic and environmental communities, City of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino said, “The Center for Life Science Boston reinforces Boston’s reputation as the world leader for life science research and development. This amazing facility is yet another example of the Longwood Medical Area’s commitment to explore new frontiers in world-class research and medical discoveries, cure life-threatening disease and improve the lives of persons everywhere.”
Designed by Tsoi/Kobus & Associates of Cambridge, the Center for Life Science Boston will offer 705,000 square feet of research and office space, including a multi-story winter garden on Blackfan Street. The building design also includes numerous energy efficient and environmentally advanced features, many of which were used in Lyme’s acclaimed Genzyme Center in Cambridge, and will receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating. The Center for Life Science Boston is being built by William A. Berry & Son, Inc. and will be completed in late 2007.
“Lyme’s business philosophy is to create a handful of large mixed-use research facilities in the elite centers of learning and research in the country. Boston’s Longwood Medical Area is a unique concentration of talent and discovery, and Lyme and Scottish Widows are proud to be a part of that and to have Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as a tenant,” Mr. Clem said.
The Center for Life Science Boston is surrounded by world class research institutions, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, which will occupy approximately 50% of the new facility’s space.
“Our research department is fundamental to our mission, and that is why we are very proud to be providing our world class researchers with world class laboratory facilities in this new building,” said Beth Israel Deaconess’ board chair Carl Sloane. “Their work translates into better clinical treatments and medical breakthrough products that improve the quality of life.” BIDMC’s research program, led by chief academic officer Jeffrey S. Flier, M.D., is the third largest recipient of National Institutes of Health research funding among independent U.S. teaching hospitals.
Other prominent research institutions adjacent to the new building include Children’s Hospital’s Karp Family Research Laboratories, the New Research Building at Harvard Medical School and Merck’s Scolnick Research Center.
About Lyme Properties
Lyme Properties was founded in 1993 by David Clem who built the first life science laboratories in Kendall Square, Cambridge in the mid-1980s. Today Lyme is one of the country’s most experienced and largest life science developers specializing in the acquisition, development, and leasing of first-quality life science and mixed-use properties located in prime educational, research, and medical centers. In recent years, Lyme has built lab space for companies such as Genzyme, Millennium, Vertex, Microbia, Metabolix, and Monsanto. Lyme has built and leased over 1.5 million square feet of life science research space and has an additional 1.5 million square feet under development.
Download the press release here.