Life Science

BIC Aims to Spur Innovation Economy

Berkshire Innovation Center

The Berkshire Innovation Center

Pittsfield, MA – Steffian Bradley Architects (SBA) is currently designing a new building that Pittsfield Mayor Daniel Bianchi recently described as a “game changer” for the region.

The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) is a collaborative research and development center that will bring advanced capabilities to existing small and medium-sized manufacturers in the life sciences and the life sciences supply chain, allowing these companies to increase their innovation capacity.

SBA’s design team includes project executive Chris Waltz, principal designer Derek Noble, project manager Kris Kennedy, lab designer Erik Lustgarten, and interior designer Susan Sclafani.

The project team includes BVH Integrated Services, P.C., Lim Consultants, Guntlow Associates, Studio 2112, and Ellana Construction Consultants.

The BIC is a private sector driven facility that will offer several important capabilities to its members’ companies, including access to advanced R&D equipment; collaboration partnerships with leading research and higher education institutions including UMass, RPI, and SUNY College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering; customized training and workforce development programs; and student internship and apprenticeship programs.

The center will be a 20,000sf facility that will include clean rooms, wet labs, advanced equipment, state-of-the-art classrooms, conference rooms, and videoconferencing equipment.

Funded by a Mass Life Science Center capital grant, the BIC will be located on a gateway site within the William Stanley Business Park, marking the continued reinvestment and rejuvenation of the former home of General Electric and the first step in rekindling the high-tech economy in the region.