Category: News

Longfellow Continues to Build Out San Diego Portfolio with First Ground-up Development in Growing Sorrento Mesa Biotech Cluster

Bioterra campus groundbreaking is a milestone as top life science developer delivers on projects spanning 90 acres across Sorrento Mesa and Sorrento Valley

San Diego, CA (August 3, 2022) — Longfellow Real Estate Partners, the largest privately held investor and developer of life science buildings in the United States, celebrated the groundbreaking of Bioterra, its first ground-up life science development in San Diego.

A milestone in Longfellow’s commitment to building out the burgeoning biotech cluster in the Sorrento Mesa and Sorrento Valley submarkets, Bioterra will consist of over 323,000 square feet in six stories. The new campus, designed by HOK with McCarthy Builders as the general contractor on the project, will feature a beautiful rooftop patio overlooking Sorrento Mesa, with specially curated food and beverage options open to the public. Consistent with Longfellow’s commitment to be a leader in delivering environmentally sustainable and socially responsible projects, Bioterra will be the first all-electric HVAC life science building in San Diego in addition to being designed to LEED Gold Certification and Fitwel Standards, resulting in strategically forward-thinking and ESG leading design.

Bioterra is ideally located in Sorrento Mesa, offering biotech tenants convenient access to the I-5 Freeway and San Diego’s finest universities and research institutes, including UC San Diego, Salk Institute, and the Scripps Research Institute, as well as numerous world-renowned medical centers. The campus is just minutes away from Longfellow’s other life science properties in the region, including the award-winning SOVA Science District campus which includes an amenity center complete with on-site gym, brewery, and coffee shop.

“As the first ground-up project in our San Diego portfolio, Bioterra is an exciting step forward in Longfellow’s commitment to support the rapidly growing San Diego life science market,” said Nick Frasco, Longfellow Real Estate Partners Chief Investment Officer West & Managing Director. “Once construction is complete, the campus will be a major addition to San Diego’s core life science cluster and offer will top biotech users a unique value proposition based on state-of-the-art space, unparalleled amenities, and proximity to world-class industry partners.”

“As San Diego continues to develop and draw the world’s top talent in life science and biotech innovation, much of that growth has been right here in Sorrento Mesa and Sorrento Valley. Today’s groundbreaking at Bioterra is a result of Longfellow’s commitment to building a world-class innovation ecosystem in this community,” said San Diego City Councilmember Chris Cate. “I look forward to Longfellow’s continued investment in the region as we work together to create the 21st century infrastructure our city and economy demands.”

Longfellow’s groundbreaking at Bioterra follows the firm’s rapid expansion last month to two new US markets, Philadelphia, and Maryland-Washington D.C., along the company’s first international acquisition in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

“When we first entered the San Diego market in 2018, we had a vision for the future of life science development in the region,” said Adam Sichol, Longfellow Real Estate Partners Co-Founder and CEO. “Now four years later that is becoming a reality, as we deliver on large investments across 90 acres in key locations for the regional biotech industry. Bioterra has the distinction of being the first property we’re developing from the ground-up, enabling us to build a purpose-built space where our future tenants can thrive. The campus site is an unparalleled location that offers users access to top medical facilities, transit, and amenities.”

“We’re honored the team at Longfellow trusted McCarthy to lead its first ground-up build for their new Bioterra campus at Sorrento Mesa,” said Robert Betz, executive vice president at McCarthy.  “McCarthy has a deep well of expertise in the local San Diego life science industry, and we’re confident about our knowledge in the space – paired with Longfellow’s commitment to innovation and sustainability – will deliver an unforgettable campus.”

Longfellow currently has a total investment and development portfolio of approximately 15 million square feet and over $10bn in total asset value, with large footprints in the nation’s most dynamic centers for the biotech industry including San Diego, Boston, San Francisco, and the Research Triangle.

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About Longfellow Real Estate Partners

Longfellow Real Estate Partners is the largest private life science real estate services firm in the United States. The firm’s portfolio spans approximately 15 million square feet of laboratory and technology space, concentrated in the nation’s top markets for bio-innovation on both coasts including Boston-Cambridge, Maryland-Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, the Research Triangle of North Carolina, along with the firm’s expansion to the United Kingdom. Longfellow acquires and develops facilities in strategic locations and builds long-term relationships with research-centric organizations including life science companies, universities, medical centers, and research institutes. The firm’s institutional capabilities and entrepreneurial vision enables Longfellow to deliver high quality laboratories and innovation space while satisfying each customer’s unique requirements. For more information visit https://lfrep.com.

Press/Media Contact

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

Longfellow Real Estate Partners is Proud to Welcome Jordan Betz as newest Managing Director, Portfolio Leasing

Durham, NC (July 5, 2022) – Longfellow Real Estate Partners, the largest privately held investor and developer of life science buildings in the US, has announced the addition of Jordan Betz as Managing Director, Portfolio Leasing. As Managing Director, Portfolio Leasing, Jordan will execute the firm’s strategic business plans throughout its national and international portfolio by supporting third-party brokers, leading lease transactions, and improving standards and processes within Longfellow’s leasing department.

Mr. Betz comes to Longfellow from Foundry Commercial where he served as Partner, Office Agency in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in the leasing of institutional-grade assets. For more than 16 years, Jordan has spearheaded the leasing and marketing efforts of over 6 million square feet which was comprised of best-in-class, institutional office/flex/life science product throughout the Triangle. Key assignments included Triangle LIFE (formerly known as Keystone Technology Park), Meridian Corporate Center, Wells Fargo Capitol Center, and more.

“We are thrilled to have Jordan join the Longfellow team and excited to work alongside him in the role,” said Neill Sherron, Managing Director, Portfolio Leasing. “As our national portfolio continues to expand, Jordan will be instrumental in continuing to put our current and prospective tenants’ needs first as they execute their life-changing work.”

Jordan earned his Bachelors Degree in International Business from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Active in his personal and professional life, he has been involved with the Triangle Area Office Building Association (TRAOBA), National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP), as well as locally with Big Brothers Big Sisters as a volunteer mentor.

“I am truly honored to join Longfellow, a highly acclaimed and tremendously successful company,” said Jordan Betz, Longfellow’s new Managing Director, Portfolio Leasing. “As a team, we will continue to empower the life science and biotech industry with best in class, innovative space for all to thrive.”

The strategic addition follows a year of significant growth for Longfellow as the firm increased its footprint in the San Francisco Bay Area by over 1 million square feet with acquisitions in Millbrae, Emeryville, and San Francisco; invested in building out one of the nation’s most dynamic life science clusters in San Diego with acquisitions in the Sorrento Mesa and Sorrento Valley submarkets; closed on assets and partnerships that will help address strong demand in the Research Triangle market in North Carolina; and expanded with first acquisitions/partnerships in New York City, Philadelphia, Maryland/Washington D.C., and the United Kingdom to bring its vision for world-class innovation ecosystems to new markets.

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About Longfellow Real Estate Partners

Longfellow Real Estate Partners is the largest private life science real estate services firm in the United States. The firm’s portfolio spans nearly 15 million square feet of laboratory and technology space, concentrated in the nation’s top markets for bio-innovation on both coasts including Boston-Cambridge, Maryland-Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, the Research Triangle of North Carolina, along with the firm’s expansion to the United Kingdom. Longfellow acquires and develops facilities in strategic locations and builds long-term relationships with research-centric organizations including life science companies, universities, medical centers, and research institutes. The firm’s institutional capabilities and entrepreneurial vision enables Longfellow to deliver high quality laboratories and innovation space while satisfying each customer’s unique requirements. For more information visit https://lfrep.com.

Press/Media Contacts

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

BioLabs announces new laboratory location at Longfellow’s BioVista

San Diego, CA (June 15, 2022) – BioInnovation Labs, “BioLabs”, the leading developer and operator of life science coworking lab facilities for high-potential life-science start-ups in key biotech innovation clusters, today announced their new lab location at BioVista, described as the “Hub of Connectivity” for science companies in Sorrento Mesa. This reimagined campus will also provide ample outdoor gathering spaces and upcoming restaurant/café complete with celebrity chef.

“We are excited to start this new chapter in San Diego, a market that BioLabs has successfully operated in since June 2016. The new facility at BioVista will allow us to more than double our space and offerings for entrepreneurs and create a new hub for life science start-ups in San Diego,” said Johannes Fruehauf, CEO at BioLabs.

BioLabs expects to open for residents at BioVista in early fall 2022 and will operate a temporary space in anticipation of opening on the top two floors in summer 2023.  To build on the current BioLabs location, the team expects to welcome up to 35 high-performing science-based start-ups. BioLabs will offer fully permitted individual benches, a range of private labs, shared and private office spaces, and conference facilities. Residents will also have access to state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, dedicated expert lab support staff, a comprehensive procurement platform, events and programming, and access to a network of BioLabs sites in multiple domestic and international geographies.

“Longfellow is thrilled to welcome BioLabs to our San Diego portfolio,” said Nick Frasco, Chief Investment Officer West and Managing Director. “The BioLabs team’s unique approach to operating shared lab space that fosters innovation and growth for biotech startups aligns perfectly with Longfellow’s goal of creating comprehensive lab space ecosystems to serve our tenants across all stages and sizes.”

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About BioLabs

BioLabs is the definitive growth partner for science-based entrepreneurs, empowering companies to accelerate their science, grow their business, and have a lasting impact on the world. The BioLabs difference is in its sector-defining ecosystem: delivering best-in-class lab space, essential business services, a powerful network of innovators and guides who offer “been-there” insight, and site teams with unparalleled experience guiding founders through the operational complexities of growing a biotech company. The expanding BioLabs network of coworking lab facilities now comprises 12 sites in the US and sites in Paris and Saclay, France, Heidelberg, Germany, and Kawasaki, Japan in collaboration with iCONM. www.biolabs.io

About Longfellow Real Estate Partners 

Longfellow Real Estate Partners is the largest private life science real estate services firm in the United States. The firm’s portfolio spans nearly 15 million square feet of laboratory and technology space, concentrated in the nation’s top markets for bio-innovation on both coasts including Boston-Cambridge, Maryland-Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia San Diego, San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham, along with the firm’s expansion to the United Kingdom. Longfellow acquires and develops facilities in strategic locations and builds long-term relationships with research-centric organizations including life science companies, universities, medical centers and research institutes. The firm’s institutional capabilities and entrepreneurial vision enables Longfellow to deliver high quality laboratories and innovation space while satisfying each customer’s unique requirements. For more information about Longfellow, visit https://lfrep.com.

Media contacts

BioLabs

Nina Dudnik: 617-401-7876, ndudnik@biolabs.io

Longfellow Real Estate Partners

Casey Angel: +1 (619) 400-7990, cangel@lfrep.com

Longfellow Real Estate Partners with the University of Pennsylvania to Develop 455,000 sq.ft. Life Sciences Research, Development and Manufacturing Facility

Longfellow Real Estate Partners and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers, have announced their first investment into life science and innovation real estate in the UK: Capital Park Cambridge.

Capital Park Cambridge is a 42-acre campus of approximately 250,000 square feet of innovation-focused workspace that is home to a dozen companies from sectors including tech, agtech and biotech, through to patent law and the NHS / Department of Health. The campus sits on Cambridge Road in close proximity to Cambridge Station, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Arm’s HQ at Peterhouse Technology Park and the Cambridge International Technology Park development.

Building on a successful existing relationship in the United States, Longfellow and PSP Investments have a long-term investment strategy for Capital Park and intend to acquire additional assets in the UK with an initial focus on the Golden Triangle markets of Cambridge, Oxford, and London.

In addition to Cambridge, UK, Longfellow – one of the largest investors in innovation and life sciences’ real estate in the US – has offices and sizable portfolios in key innovation ecosystems including Boston-Cambridge (MA), New York City, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Research Triangle of North Carolina, with a total portfolio that spans approximately 15 million square feet and over $10 billion in total asset value.

“We are excited to have made our first acquisition in the UK,” said Longfellow Managing Director Alex Wright. “Cambridge is a key part of the UK’s future and through sustainably-focused, long-term investment strategies in campuses like Capital Park, we aim to contribute to the region’s innovation ecosystem.”

“The acquisition of Capital Park is an important milestone for Longfellow and PSP Investments. We are committed to growing our presence in the UK and providing space to serve an ecosystem of life science occupiers from small venture-backed companies through to mature companies and institutions,” said Longfellow Co-Founder & CEO Adam Sichol. “Science and innovation real estate is operationally intensive and Longfellow has a successful track record developing and operating these critical facilities. The combination of sustainable, state-of-the-art lab space with a mix of amenities is an important part of Longfellow’s investment approach in all of our cluster markets including the Golden Triangle.”

“We are pleased to extend our US relationship with Longfellow into the UK with this significant acquisition in Cambridge, in line with our global convictions in the life sciences sector,” said Stéphane Jalbert, Managing Director, Head of Asia-Pacific and Europe, Real Estate Investments, at PSP Investments. “Cambridge is a market that PSP Investments knows well from its current portfolio and, being one of Europe’s top innovation clusters, we look forward to continuing to support the growth of the life sciences industry in the UK, while delivering strong risk-adjusted returns.”