Longfellow Strengthens Regional Leadership through Key Appointments

San Diego / San Francisco, CA (February 22, 2024) – Longfellow Real Estate Partners, one of the largest privately owned investors and developers of life science real estate, today announced the expansion of regional leadership in the key West Coast markets of San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Newly announced leadership includes Peter Fritz as Regional Managing Director in San Diego and Tara Korlipara as Director of Development and Market Lead in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each of these regional leads will enter elevated and expanded roles after excelling in their previous positions at Longfellow.

As Managing Director, San Diego, Peter Fritz will work with Longfellow’s leadership team to set and execute the strategy for continued growth and operations in the San Diego region. In his new role, Peter will serve as the regional office leader and expand relationships with local life science and industry partners as well as key local government and community stakeholders. In this role, he will also be responsible for ensuring that Longfellow tenants continue to experience state-of-the-art lab space and a world-class experience in San Diego.

Peter previously held the role of Senior Director, Development where he oversaw Longfellow’s ground-up development projects, collaborating with teams across the portfolio. Prior to joining Longfellow, Peter was a Vice President at Project Management Advisors Inc. where he managed the delivery of over 2 million square feet of life science, commercial office, and retail development.

In her new role as Director of Development & Market Lead in the Bay Area, Tara Korlipara will work closely with the regional team and executive team to advance regional developments, pursue new opportunities, and support and oversee Longfellow’s nearly 5 million square foot pipeline in the region.

As she continues to expand her work with Longfellow’s vertically integrated departments, Tara will build and maintain new and existing relationships with key tenants, community leaders, and stakeholders throughout the firm’s Bay Area portfolio which includes developments in Palo Alto, Redwood City, Millbrae, Emeryville, San Mateo, and San Francisco’s Mission Bay.

Peter and Tara have stepped into their new roles after local leader Nick Frasco was elevated to Partner, West Region with Longfellow in late 2023 where he is now responsible for oversight and strategic growth throughout the Western United States.

“We are proud to announce the expanded roles of Peter and Tara in our key West Coast regions,” said Nick Frasco, Partner, West Region. “They have shown incredible leadership and collaboration with our internal team and the communities we partner with. I’m looking forward to the great things each will accomplish in their new roles as Longfellow continues to provide best-in-class space for our tenants throughout our portfolio.”

Longfellow is a long-term investor, operator, and developer of life science real estate throughout the United States and United Kingdom with a total investment and development portfolio of more than 16.5 million square feet and over $10bn in total asset value.

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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 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

 

From Parachute Factory to State-of-the-Art Lab Space: Hatch Life Sciences

How a Former Parachute Factory in Queens Became Life Sciences Space

Among the challenges for Longfellow Real Estate Partners’ Hatch Life Sciences project? Disassembling a rooftop billboard.

Six years ago, Commercial Observer toured a decaying 1920s warehouse near Queensboro Plaza in Long Island City, which then-owner Normandy Real Estate Partners planned to convert to offices.

In 2021, life sciences developer Longfellow Real Estate Partners purchased a $95 million majority interest in the seven-story property at 43-10 23rd Street with plans to install a mix of life sciences labs and offices. A private real estate fund controlled by Columbia Property Trust — which acquired Normandy in 2020 — and Kassabian Realty still has the minority stake in the building. 

Longfellow named the project “Hatch Life Sciences,” in a throwback to the building’s former life as a parachute manufacturing plant. Suffolk Construction oversaw the conversion and renovation work, which involved replacing all the windows, repairing damaged rebar and concrete on the facade, and installing a tank in the basement to alleviate flooding from storms. 

“The existing stormwater capacity of the neighborhood is overwhelmed, so this basement floods when there’s a big rain event,” said Suffolk’s Justin LaPoint. “We got pumps in there and realized we needed to build a large leaching galley in the courtyard — a place to channel overflow stormwater below the new parking lot we built. It’s a retention tank that slowly leaches [stormwater] into the environment.” 

The building’s roof also had a large billboard visible from the 7 train and the Queensboro Bridge, which workers had to disassemble piece by piece to allow access to part of the roof. The utility work required for labs is also extensive, requiring upgrades to the building’s gas and electrical lines, along with the installation of chemical storage areas, fume hoods, air compressors, reverse-osmosis water filtration, chillers, boilers, generators and electrical transformers.  

Suffolk documented all the work with a piece of technology called OpenSpace, a 360-degree camera that superintendents can wear on their hardhats when they do their weekly site walks. 

“It creates a 3-D map of the site on that day,” said LaPoint. “You can click within this drawing and see the history of each spot. It allows us to look at the history within the walls, and it creates a good monument for the ownership to know what is in the wall here. They have actual footage of the development of the project throughout time.” 

The first floor also has an amenity area off the lobby with conference spaces and a cafe that serves coffee, beer and wine. The rear courtyard was paved for a 15-space parking lot with electric vehicle charging. 

Longfellow opted to build about 70,000 square feet of prebuilt lab space, which can be split into suites ranging from 14,000 to 21,000 square feet. The upper floors remain unfinished shell space with the hookups for lab equipment. Construction began in July of 2022 and wrapped in December 2023, though workers are still putting finishing touches on the interiors.

Article Courtesy of Commercial Observer: https://commercialobserver.com/2024/02/hatch-life-sciences-longfellow-queens/

Projects Transforming NC’s Biotech Scene: Via Labs & Chapel Hill Project

A threat to Boston’s dominance? 9 projects transforming the Triangle’s biotech scene

For over two decades, greater Boston has been hailed as the world’s “mecca” for biotech and innovation.

But roughly 700 miles southwest, Raleigh-Durham is posing a serious threat to its dominance, The Boston Globe noted earlier this month.

Most of the major real estate players in Boston’s life-science world — King Street Properties and Longfellow, to name two — either have a presence in the Research Triangle area or are considering one. “They have to. It’s where their tenants are looking to grow,” Globe reporter Catherine Carlock wrote.

According to CBRE’s latest estimates, some $8.9 billion has been invested in the region’s life-science real estate since 2018, totaling more than 29 projects proposed or underway from companies like Fujifilm Diosynth and Amgen.

Rising interest rates and softening economic conditions have tempered tenant demand slightly over the last year, CBRE said in its 2023 fourth-quarter market report. But the region remains poised for continued growth.

Some 310,366 square feet of lab space — and 581,467 square feet of GMP/biomanufacturing space (GMP) — is currently under construction.

Separately, real estate firm JLL ranked Raleigh-Durham – not Boston – the No. 1 biomanufacturing market in the country, and a top five life-science cluster in the United States.

“It’s not overbuilt,” said Eric Forshee, JLL’s executive vice president, in an email. “Compared to the larger markets like Boston and the Bay Area, our market has been conservative. We have a lot of room to grow.”

Research Triangle Park

Project: Via Labs at Hub RTP

Description: Inside Hub RTP, a “mini-city” in the middle of Research Triangle Park, Boston-based life-science real estate firm Longfellow is planning an eight-story tower called Via Labs.

Details: The building will sit next to a parking garage near the Hub’s I-40 entrance. Its first-floor ceilings will be higher than the rest to accommodate manufacturers in addition to research and development.

“We continue to work in tandem with RTP,” said Greg Capps, Longefellow’s managing director, in an email.

The firm hopes to break ground on the building sometime this year, though it’s seeking pre-leases for roughly 20% to 30% of the tower before starting construction.

“There are no finalized pre-leases. We continue several advanced talks with companies,” Longfellow spokesperson Casey Angel said.

Longfellow has a nationwide development portfolio, including roughly 5 million square feet in the Triangle. This includes the Durham ID building in downtown Durham. Six other life-science locations are proposed, including a 380,000-square-foot research lab, office and retail building in the 300 block of West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. (See below).

Chapel Hill

Project: 306 W. Franklin St.

Description: Longfellow Real Estate Partners is planning for up to 380,000 square feet of research lab, office and retail in the 300 block of West Franklin Street.

Details: The 1.84-acre site is between West Franklin and West Rosemary streets, between the Bicycle Chain store and Cholanad restaurant.

Though the project’s architects are still finalizing designs, the Boston-based developer said it is expected to include a public plaza on West Franklin Street and a walkway between West Franklin and West Rosemary streets.

The project will rely primarily on off-site parking but includes 100 to 120 underground parking spaces on site.

The future of the Blue Dogwood Public Market and other small businesses remains unclear. The developers have reached out to current tenants along the block and are negotiating possible solutions though weekly discussions, a Longfellow spokesman told The N&O.

Longfellow Receives 2023 Best Places to Work Award by Pensions & Investments

Longfellow Real Estate Partners is proud to announce that our firm has been named one of the 2023 Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments!

Presented by Pensions & Investments, the global news source of money management and institutional investing, the 12th annual survey and recognition program is dedicated to identifying and recognizing the best employers in throughout the United States.

“Longfellow is thrilled to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by Pensions & Investments,” said Longfellow Co-Founder and CEO Adam Sichol. “By putting our people first, we’ve developed a culture that is collaborative, caring and rewarding. We are grateful for our team and the outstanding culture that allows us to make a positive impact on the lives of our people and the communities where we work.”

Longfellow hires the best in the business – creating a diverse team of experts who collaborate and learn from one another. We believe that what’s good for our team is also good for our business. We encourage a kind, fun, collaborative culture where the wins are shared.

It is the Longfellow culture and spirit cultivated by our employees that has allowed us this amazing honor. Thank you to Pensions and Investments and to all Longfellow employees for working to make our organization so special!

Head over to Pensions & Investments website for a full profile at: https://www.pionline.com/best-places-work-money-management/longfellow-real-estate-partners

Longfellow’s ESG Efforts, UK Expansion, & Overall Experience Profiled by Bisnow Intl

Longfellow Real Estate Partners Expands Its Life Sciences Reach To The UK And Beyond

While the global life sciences market is not immune to the challenges facing many other industries, including growing competition and supply chain disruptions, the numbers show that it remains one of the strongest commercial real estate asset classes.

The global life sciences market was estimated to be worth more than $27B in 2022 and is predicted to reach $47.5B by 2027. As the market continues to grow, life sciences companies will need more spaces across the globe to grow along with it. This is where companies like Longfellow Real Estate Partners come in.

Longfellow has an extensive history of working with world-renowned institutions and companies in competitive life sciences markets. Now, the company is expanding its presence in the UK while continuing to take on more life sciences projects across the U.S. Longfellow sponsored Bisnow’s two-day International Life Sciences and Biotech Conference, where attendees from the company had an opportunity to connect with other major players in this booming industry and share their vision.

Bisnow spoke with several members of the Longfellow team, including Longfellow CEO and co-founder Adam Sichol and Longfellow Associate Director of ESG Lauren Ballou, for a series of articles about the company’s plans, its growing commitment to sustainability and where it sees the market heading.

Longfellow Launches CamLIFE, Visionary Life Science Campus in Cambridge, UK

Cambridge, UK (October 17, 2023) – Longfellow Real Estate Partners, the largest privately held investor and developer of life science buildings in the US, unveiled the future of CamLIFE, a 42-acre parkland campus delivering high-quality, fitted lab space, curated amenities, and expansive green space in Cambridge.

CamLIFE, which stands for Cambridge Lab and Innovation Focused Environment, builds upon the successful, all-inclusive campuses Longfellow has delivered throughout the United States, following in the footsteps of the likes of Redwood LIFE in the San Francisco Bay Area and Triangle LIFE in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. This first phase of CamLIFE will deliver approximately 170,000 square feet of adaptable, best-in-class, fitted lab space across three buildings with options ranging from 7,000 sq ft suites, to 15,000-20,000 sq ft floors, to whole buildings up to 75,000 sq ft.

The visionary campus occupies an outstanding location in this exciting innovation ecosystem, less than a 12-minute drive / 16-minute cycle ride to each of Cambridge station and Addenbrooke’s Hospital / Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including the new Cambridge South station from 2025) and a 5-minute drive to the A11 (providing easy access to Stansted Airport and onto London).

CamLIFE is well-served by multi-modal connectivity with easy and safe connections for cyclists, scooters, runners as well as direct access by bus and car. Longfellow is focused on supporting sustainable transport solutions with EV charging on-campus, enhanced cycle parking and end-of-journey facilities being delivered as part of the works, and the potential for shuttle services to key locations.

“We have a long track record of working within the world’s leading innovation ecosystems and delivering the space, environment, and support to help research-focused companies thrive,” said Longfellow Managing Director, Alex Wright. “We are delighted to be launching the first phase of CamLIFE and delivering Longfellow’s brand of fitted lab, amenities and customer-focused service to support the amazing talent and companies that call Cambridge home.”

Longfellow’s commitment to sustainable development underpins the environmental ethos, the campus, and its community. The first phase is targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC A. The adaptive re-use design approach has led to a 40% whole-life embodied carbon reduction relative to a new-build net-zero equivalent. As well as helping to create a more sustainable built environment, CamLIFE will be a place that positively contributes to the health, wellbeing, and productivity of its users.

“This is an exciting moment for Longfellow and life sciences in the UK as we look forward to supporting the ongoing growth of the UK’s incredible science sector,” said Adam Sichol, Co-Founder & CEO of Longfellow Real Estate Partners. “By bringing our expertise of developing and managing state-of-the-art, sustainably focused, and highly amenitized lab space, we are establishing a high-quality portfolio that will help support R&D ecosystems across the UK’s key markets.”

The amenity-rich campus will be supported by Longfellow’s proprietary customer experience platform, ElevateTM, which will build custom programming and on-site offerings to help create and support the campus’ customer community. To complement the pilates studio, childcare nursery, EV chargers, and rotating food truck programme that are already features of CamLIFE, ElevateTM will be expanding the health + wellbeing and food + beverage offerings; introducing shared meeting room, event, and breakout spaces; delivering high quality end-of-journey facilities; and rolling-out event programmes including talks, education & networking events.

Acquired in June 2022, CamLIFE was previously known as Capital Park Cambridge, home to companies from sectors such as tech, agtech, and biotech. The campus is Longfellow’s first acquisition in the United Kingdom, showcasing the firm’s dedication to supporting the visionary companies and world-renowned institutions located throughout the Golden Triangle. Cambridge continues to be one of the leading innovation ecosystems, with the highest proportion per capita of start-ups in the UK.

Longfellow has spearheaded the development of life science clusters throughout the United States. With more than 16.5 million square feet located in key biotech markets, Longfellow continues to partner with and support innovative companies and institutions in the leading metro regions.

For more information on CamLIFE, please visit: https://camlife.co.uk/

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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 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

Via Labs at Hub RTP’s Revolutionary Campus Launches Brand & Vision

Longfellow is set to development more than 265,000 square feet of lab and office space within the revolutionary campus located in the heart of RTP

Research Triangle, NC (September 21, 2023) – Longfellow Real Estate Partners, the largest privately held investor and developer of life science buildings, unveiled Via Labs at Hub RTP as the new name and brand of its life science development that is currently underway at the revolutionary Hub RTP project in the Research Triangle.

This marquee building and innovative development located on a 1.5-acre lot will be part of Research Triangle Park’s two million square foot master planned development that will continue to transform RTP from a corporate campus into a true live-work-play ecosystem that will cater to the needs of leading international companies.

The 265,000 square foot project will feature Class A life science and innovative space that will showcase the growth of the Research Triangle and double down on Longfellow’s commitment to invest in and support the life science industry in North Carolina.

“Seeing the vision of Via Labs come to life along with the new brand is truly exciting,” said Greg Capps, Managing Director at Longfellow Real Estate Partners. “Our team is committed to supporting the life science industry and ecosystem as well as tremendous community projects such as Hub RTP – the vision and impact of this project will be seen for generations to come in the Research Triangle.”

The Via Labs project stands to be a connection between the proud history of innovation in the Research Triangle and the possibilities of tomorrow. By serving the active and robust life science demand in the Research Triangle, this location will deliver on Longfellow’s vision to provide state-of-the-art lab space combined with neighborhood feel and high-quality community amenities. Longfellow will also implement the company’s proprietary tenant experience platform ElevateTM, which will build off the local offerings and incorporate on-site facilities through custom programming to heighten the campus experience for future tenants and community members.

“Working with a highly sought after company like Longfellow Real Estate Partners validates the strength of Hub RTP, Research Triangle Park’s new vibrant downtown,” said Scott Levitan, President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of NC. “Including this life science development continues to build out the masterplan that supports the office, retail, hotel, and residential components in a holistic way.”

Longfellow has spearheaded the development of life science clusters throughout the region, including key campuses located in Wake County, Research Triangle Park, and Downtown Durham. With more than 16.5 million square feet located in key biotech markets across the United States and United Kingdom, Longfellow continues to partner with and support innovative companies and institutions in the leading metro regions.

For additional information and leasing inquiries regarding the Via Labs development, please visit: www.ViaLabsatHubRTP.com.

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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 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