What is Shaping Biomedical and Life Science Construction?

There’s no doubt that the biomedical industry in Southern California continues to flourish with a strong demand for more labs and medical facilities. Recently completed construction in the San Diego market includes a $4 million project for medical device giant NuVasive to convert a three-story building into a showroom and surgery suite, and a $2 million renovation to an existing 15,000-square-foot building for Cell Applications Inc., a firm that provides cell cultures for medical research distribution. Sharp Hospital also selected Good & Roberts for design-build services on a new imaging center and pharmacy.

Here’s a look at how this is impacting the construction industry and key growth markets, and other trends shaping the development of life science facilities.

“California is a global leader in the life sciences industry, directly employing more than 300,000 people across 3,400 companies, universities and biological research institutes,” says Joe Grosshart, president of Good & Roberts LLC. “Three of the major hubs including San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles are heading the market in Southern California.”

In 2020, 20 percent of all domestic research and development expenditures were allocated toward medical equipment, biotech and pharmaceuticals – and it is the growing demand for R&D facilities that is urging the construction industry to keep up. San Diego has proven to be a hot market for large lab construction, accounting for 72 percent of all Southern California-based R&D projects, according to CBRE. Los Angeles and Orange County split the difference at 16 percent and 12 percent, respectively.