Watertown, MA – The Davis Companies closed on a joint venture agreement with Boston Development Group (BDG) to co-develop 66 Galen Street, Phase 1 of a purpose-built Class A life science campus in Watertown. The campus will include more than 450,000sf of research and lab space in two buildings. Phase 1 will break ground in May.
Planned in close collaboration with the town of Watertown, 66 Galen Street will address the growing need for quality life science space as short supply in Cambridge and Boston has prompted companies to search beyond traditional urban markets.
Phase 1 will be a 224,106sf, class A, inner suburban lab building that will be LEED Gold certified upon completion. One of the distinguishing factors of the project is its significant upgrade of the public realm along the Galen Street corridor. Substantial transportation infrastructure improvements, including traffic signalization, lane widenings, dedicated bus lanes and sidewalks, will be completed with the project, and 40% of the site will be dedicated to parks and green spaces.
Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, the building will include five private tenant outdoor spaces with panoramic views of the Charles River, and high-end amenity spaces, including a fitness center, locker rooms with showers, a 45-space bike room, on-site retail/cafe space, a hotel-style building lobby, and ample indoor parking.
“Given The Davis Companies’ success and experience in life science development, we are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with them on this project,” said Jodie Zussman, president of BDG. “The expertise of our two firms, along with the incredible work done to date by Elkus Manfredi Architects and John Moriarity & Associates, will ensure the future of 66 Galen Street as a destination for companies looking for thoughtfully designed lab facilities in a park-like setting.”
The project team for the new development also includes WSP, mechanical/electrical/plumbing designers; McNamara & Salvia, structural engineers; VHB, site/civil designers; Ground, landscape architect; and DENS Facility Services.
