Category: News

Durham Innovation District Continues to Attract Key Retail Partners

Durham ID welcomes local favorite Narrative Coffee to the thriving downtown campus

Durham, NC (April 9, 2025) – Longfellow Real Estate Partners, one of the largest privately held investors and developers of life science buildings, announced a new partnership to bring the Triangle-favorite coffeeshop, Narrative Coffee, into its Durham Innovation District campus.

The 300 Morris Street location in Durham ID will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for Narrative Coffee, which has built a successful following throughout the Triangle Region as a full-service coffee trailer and cart, providing an inviting and unmatched experience for customers. The Narrative Coffee team prides itself on delivering the best product available while fostering deep, lasting connections within the community it serves.

Narrative Coffee is scheduled to open its storefront in June with pop-up events on site each Friday in Durham ID’s courtyard leading up to its storefront grand opening this summer.

“Opening our first physical coffee shop is a dream come true,” said Rod Lawson, Owner of Narrative Coffee. “Teaming up with Longfellow and the vibrant, growing Durham community has been an awesome journey. We’re not just about great coffee; we’re building a spot where people can connect, chill, and feel at home. It’s all about creating a space where everyone’s welcome and the vibe is real.”

“The entire Longfellow team is thrilled to welcome Narrative Coffee into our Durham ID campus,” said Austin Bell, Broker with Longfellow Real Estate Partners. “Creating desirable space for local favorites that reflect the best of our community is at the heart of our mission.”

The announcement of Narrative Coffee builds off the strong start to 2025 within the Durham Innovation District as the campus welcomed another Durham-favorite, Virge Yoga, which opened in January. Virge Yoga’s founder and owner Jodi Myers has reinforced that her studio will thrive downtown due to its walkability and convenience to her future guests.

In 2024, Durham ID doubled down on its walkability and community appeal as the Longfellow team delivered a rejuvenated Morris Green Park, transforming it into a vibrant hub for community events and gatherings. Additionally, the campus welcomed another key retail partner, Flying Bull Beer Company, which opened its doors in the innovation district in January of last year.

Retail partners throughout Longfellow’s international portfolio play a large role in the campus ecosystem to create a true live-work-play environment and magnet for talent and companies. Durham ID is currently over 95% leased and is home to some of the region’s most innovative companies including Google, Life Edit, Tune Therapeutics, Kimely-Horn, and others.

Longfellow is a premier investor, developer, and operator of life science real estate throughout the United States and United Kingdom. Locally, the firm has key developments throughout the Triangle in RTP, Wake County, Durham, and Chapel Hill that represents over 2 million square feet of existing space and another 2.5 million square feet in its development pipeline.

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About Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Longfellow Real Estate Partners is a real estate investment company founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009. With nearly 200 employees in bio-innovation clusters across the US and UK, Longfellow partners with renowned universities and pioneering life sciences and technology companies to help bring visionary ideas to life. Driven by a passion to support those working to advance the human condition, Longfellow continues to grow and expand in the name of scientific progress. For more information, visit https://lfrep.com.

Press/Media Contact
Casey Angel: Director, Corporate Communications
+1 (619) 400-7990 • cangel@lfrep.com

Yoga studio joins Durham’s growing fitness scene

Durham is getting a plethora of new fitness studios. The latest in a string of new fitness studios coming to downtown is Virge Yoga, set to open Jan. 2 at 200 Morris St. in the Durham.ID development.

Owner Jodi Myers called Durham the “city of medicine,” making it the perfect place to launch her new studio. She wanted to be downtown in a walkable area that was close and convenient for her future guests.

“As I have been teaching and practicing yoga throughout the Triangle, it became very evident that there was a void for accessibility and affordability in the yoga world in downtown Durham,” she said. “People wanted somewhere to walk and really have access to high-quality wellness and yoga at an affordable rate, and it was just the perfect time to launch our brand, the Virge Yoga brand, right in the heart of the Bull City.”

Virge joins two other fitness studios, the cycle studio Revel and the Pilates-inspired studio Solidcore, as new tenants coming to downtown. Plus, Yoga Off East recently expanded to a larger space at the American Tobacco Campus.

Fitness retail is bucking the trend amid a number of food and beverage closures in Durham this year.

Myers, born and raised in North Carolina, has been a practitioner of yoga and Pilates for most of her life, but did not start teaching yoga until 2018. She noticed that as the yoga industry kept growing and franchising around the country, it became “watered down, and really started losing the essence and the beauty of what the art of yoga is.” With Virge Yoga, she wants to bring the practice “back to the basics.”

Virge Yoga will host hot power vinyasa, heated sculpt vinyasa and non-heated gentle vinyasa. The 3,000-square-foot space has two separate yoga studios as well as showers, changing areas and free Wi-Fi. A separate amenity is a bar for guests to purchase coffee, smoothies or other nonalcoholic beverages. Myers hopes the beverage bar will encourage guests to mingle before or after classes and engage with each other.

“Another trend that I had seen in the yoga world was people running into the studio, dropping mats and running out very rush, rush, rushed and never taking a moment to connect with their fellow yogis, to connect with each other,” she said.

The studio has been under construction for nearly five months. New City Design Group is the architect while Partners in Construction is the general contractor. Myers has hired 15 teachers and has a leadership team of three other full-time employees. She funded the new studio privately but did not share the cost for the buildout.

An unlimited monthly membership at Virge Yoga costs $109, while four classes per month costs $64. Virge also offers a variety of class pack options as well. So far, 100 members have committed to unlimited monthly memberships.

Myers is open to future expansion in the Triangle.

“We do have other people, other communities, that are knocking on our doors asking for Virge locations as we speak, and so we will investigate one or two other locations in the near future in the Triangle,” she said.

Article Courtesy of Triangle Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2024/12/25/durham-virge-yoga-studio-health-fitness-membership.html

The life sciences sector is transforming the real estate market, driven by breakthroughs in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical research. CBRE projects that 21.3 million sf of life sciences real estate will be completed this year, a 65% increase from 13.9 million sf in 2023. This rapid growth has intensified competition for attracting tenants, particularly those seeking to secure top R&D talent. According to CBRE’s U.S. Life Sciences Talent Trends 2024 report, talent acquisition challenges are expected to persist in the industry.

To distinguish their properties, developers are partnering with architectural and design firms to reimagine life sciences facilities as vibrant, welcoming destinations. By emphasizing four key elements—wellness, collaboration, biophilic design, and community integration—they are setting their properties apart. By integrating state-of-the-art facilities with unexpected public amenities, such as breweries and outdoor “living rooms,” these developments foster a more holistic environment. This evolution not only redefines how life sciences companies engage with their communities but also demonstrates how thoughtful lab design can drive innovation, paving the way for a new era in campus development.

A Study in Wellness in Life Science Facilities

Onsite gyms were just the beginning. Life sciences campuses are embracing wellness in more holistic ways to enhance productivity and job satisfaction for the talented individuals typically confined to lab benches. Longfellow Real Estate Partners, developer of the 17-acre Centerpark Labs in San Diego, worked with interdisciplinary design firms HGA and FPBA to create versatile spaces, including indoor-outdoor seating areas, lunch spaces, and a hybrid fitness area with turf and ample space for various athletic activities.

Additionally, Cell Signaling Technology (CST), a leading provider of antibodies, kits and services, will provide employees and visitors with opportunities to connect to nature in the adjacent state park, The Monoliths, supported by a network of walking trails, overlooks, and bicycle facilities on its new research and innovation campus in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.

In the competitive life sciences field, talent is increasingly attracted to workplaces that prioritize well-being and work-life balance which help mitigate burnout. Thoughtfully-designed spaces that enable employees to recharge mentally and physically enhance focus, creativity and collaboration—key drivers of breakthroughs in R&D.

Architects of Insight

Lab spaces were once characterized by isolated environments, designed for scientific functionality above all else. Today, flexibility and collaboration take center stage, with architects designing spaces that remove physical barriers to foster cross-disciplinary communication and the exchange of ideas. Design teams for projects at Centerpark Labs and Cell Signaling Technology have embraced this approach by connecting office and lab spaces with glass walls, fostering transparency and interaction while maintaining workflow. Additionally, open, flexible layouts, enable teams to easily reconfigure spaces as their research evolves, enhancing adaptability in this dynamic field.

Research in Full Bloom

Biophilic design, a popular trend in the office sector, is still a relatively new concept for research facilities. Cell Signaling Technology’s new campus, located on the site of an abandoned granite quarry, will utilize the natural cliff walls and varying elevations to create visual interest, active courtyards and al fresco lounge areas. Centerpark Labs is also incorporating outdoor terraces into its buildings, enabling employees to enjoy San Diego’s warm climate—a feature more commonly seen in Big Tech campuses and modern suburban office design than in scientific facilities. Durham ID, a 1.7 million-sf mixed-use campus developed by Longfellow, directly connects lab and office employees to Morris Green Park, which the firm developed within downtown Durham, N.C.

Life sciences companies are increasingly demonstrating their growing commitment to environmental stewardship. For example, Cell Signaling Technology’s new R&D campus is designed to eliminate the use of fossil fuels and achieve net-zero emissions—a dramatic transformation from its previous life as an environmentally depleted quarry site. By using sustainable materials, energy-efficient practices and preserving local flora, life sciences campuses not only contribute to a healthier planet while creating inviting spaces that attract eco-conscious talent. This approach reinforces company values and fosters a stronger connection between employees and their environment.

Life science campuses as destinations for the community

By integrating public-facing amenities such as restaurants, retail spaces and residential elements, life sciences facilities are becoming community-centric destinations that offer significant value for tenants and the local economy. Durham ID and Centerpark Labs have introduced features like onsite taquerias, coffee shops, yoga studios, and even a brewery to encourage public interaction and increase foot traffic. Durham ID’s mixed-use design, which integrates residential units, offices, retail and lab spaces, further stimulates local engagement, creating a strong sense of community for those who live, work and play in the area.

Wellbeing Transcends Industries

The transformation of life sciences campuses from isolated laboratories to vibrant hubs of activity reflects the growing importance of wellness and collaboration in today’s workplaces, regardless of the field. By creating innovative, flexible spaces that prioritize collaboration and well-being, architecture firms are meeting current needs while anticipating future industry demands. Their ability to create environments that foster innovation, sustainability, and community engagement will be essential in attracting and retaining top talent.

In this rapidly evolving landscape, the partnership between life sciences companies and architecture firms will be essential in creating vibrant hubs for research and discovery that drive innovation and progress. These next-generation campuses offer much more than functional lab spaces; they create dynamic environments where science, community and creativity converge.

Longfellow Real Estate Partners Announces Newest Leasing Activity, Headlined by SWIR Vision Systems

SWIR Vision Systems^® set to take their first office space at Longfellow’s Triangle LIFE Campus

Research Triangle Park, NC (October 7, 2024) – Longfellow Real Estate Partners, one of the largest privately held investors and developers of life science buildings, announced the newest tenants in its Triangle LIFE campus, located in the heart of Research Triangle Park.

Headlining the lease activity at Triangle LIFE is SWIR Vision Systems^®, a leading provider of CQD (colloidal quantum-dot-based) short wavelength infrared technology, that will occupy approximately 15,000 square feet, bringing the total occupancy of the campus to over 90%.

Recently acquired by onsemi, SWIR Vision Systems is now part of onsemi’s mission to deliver the most advanced technologies for intelligent image sensing in applications for the industrial, automotive and defense markets. The decision to establish a presence at Triangle LIFE was driven by the location’s access to top-tier talent, robust infrastructure for innovation, and the building’s existing fixtures such as a clean room, fundamental for the manufacture of semiconductors.

“Our team is thrilled to welcome SWIR Vision Systems / onsemi to our Triangle LIFE campus, a world-class location where innovative companies and individuals thrive,” said Longfellow Director of Leasing Bennett Younts. “The partnership between Longfellow and SWIR Vision Systems is a perfect example of the diverse mix of organizations that create the mosaic of our developments, from life science to technology and everything between.”

Triangle LIFE is an eleven building, 800,000+ square foot campus that is home to 30 leading research and technology companies, including Metabolon, Sensus, Liquidia Technologies, and more. The campus boasts a highly accessible, central location with direct access to I-540, I-40, NC-147, and only minutes to Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Longfellow has implemented its proprietary services and amenities package, Elevate^TM, into the Triangle LIFE campus, which aims to redefine the workplace with a fully personalized and curated experience for its tenants. While the Elevate service varies from development to development, Triangle LIFE features an intentionally designed central amenity center, The Hue, which is over 7,000 square feet and is comprised of a coffee bar, lounge, multipurpose space, conference rooms, fitness center and studio.

The Research Triangle of North Carolina continues to be a key market for Longfellow as the firm develops life science clusters throughout the region. In addition to North Carolina, Longfellow has spearheaded life science projects in key markets across the East and West Coast of the United States and Golden Triangle in the United Kingdom.

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Longfellow Real Estate Partners is a real estate investment company founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009. With approximately 200 employees in bio-innovation clusters across the US and UK, Longfellow partners with renowned universities and pioneering life sciences and technology companies to help bring visionary ideas to life. Driven by a passion to support those working to advance the human condition, Longfellow continues to grow and expand in the name of scientific progress. For more information, visit https://lfrep.com.

Press/Media Contact
Casey Angel: Director, Corporate Communications
+1 (619) 400-7990 • cangel@lfrep.com

Centerpark Labs in San Diego, California was recently named as Life Science Campus of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal in their 2024 Commercial Real Estate Awards.

Longfellow Real Estate Partners’ Centerpark Labs Campus in San Diego’s Sorrento Mesa submarket is a testament to innovative redevelopment and property management that is tenant-centric, while welcoming to the local community. Spanning 10 buildings with a total of 256,000 square feet, this project has elevated the standard for life science facilities. 

The comprehensive redesign transformed the campus into a premier Class-A life science space. Buildings underwent substantial upgrades, including cutting-edge lab infrastructure and a complete interior overhaul, ensuring the highest standards are met.  

One of the most notable aspects of the Centerpark campus is the integration of a range of amenities designed to enhance the tenant experience and foster community engagement. Introducing Longfellow’s tenant experience program, Elevate, showcases the commitment to providing exceptional service and support. Complementing this is the group fitness studio and gym and inviting indoor/outdoor amenity space complete with a common-use lawn, conferencing capabilities, and the popular Hawaiian Fresh restaurant. The campus has embraced a strong community spirit through the inviting space, attracting both tenants and local residents.  

This 16.8 acre project is a model of strategic redevelopment that has created a lively, interactive atmosphere to work and visit. The blend of advanced infrastructure, thoughtful amenities, and community engagement positions Centerpark as a benchmark in the San Diego Life Science Market.  

Longfellow Real Estate Partners celebrated the Topping Out Ceremony for the firm’s latest development, Avia Labs at Millbrae Station in the San Francisco Bay Area portfolio.

The topping off marks a major milestone for the next phase of the Avia Labs project, a six-story, 315,000 SF campus with state-of-the-art office and lab space. Avia Labs will be one of California’s first all-electric life science campuses, designed to LEED Gold and Fitwel certifications with an array of environmentally focused attributes that support its transit-oriented location, which is less than three miles from San Francisco International Airport and steps from the Millbrae Transit Center.

As the development advances to its 2025 delivery date, 39.5K cubic yards of concrete have been placed and 12.8M pounds of rebar installed. Longfellow will finalize Avia Labs’ diverse campus amenities such as its fitness center, terrace with mountain views, large conference spaces, and a public café open to the community.

The entire Longfellow team thrilled to see continued growth throughout the Bay Area region with innovative and dynamic life science companies and institutions. Thank you to our partners, Level 10 Construction and Flad Architects, on the project for your unwavering support and collaborative spirit on this upcoming campus!

For more information on Avia Labs at Millbrae Station, visit: https://avialabs.com/