In 2024, you can expect two new neighbors at 25-27 Network Drive: The Broad Institute and Vericel.
A leader in advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets, Vericel decided on Burlington as their new home. The innovations developed by Vericel have already proven to save lives. As reported by ABC 7 News, a man named Rogelio Garcia of Santa Clara, California recently suffered such severe burns that doctor’s said he had very little chance to live.
After nine surgeries and an innovative procedure developed by Vericel, Garcia not only survived, but did in fact heal. Vericel was able to use a small biopsy of his skin and create sheets of it that were used to heal the majority of Garcia’s burns by the doctors of Santa Clara hospital.
Vericel will soon be developing their life saving measures right here in Burlington, and not soon after the announcement of their move, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard followed suit.
The Broad Institute is also within the life sciences field, but approaching it in an even broader sense. Working with researchers at MIT, Harvard, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals, The Broad Institute aims to accelerate biomedical research and genomic medicine for all. In just a few minutes, they can generate a whole human genome’s worth of genetic data, and read gene expression patterns in tissues and in millions of single cells. Their work will benefit humanity for decades to come.
Both of these innovative companies had originally made a home in Kendall Square. As a hub for life sciences, it’s no surprise that they were looking to grow in a different direction, 15 miles northwest to be exact. While Vericel will be leaving its previous location entirely, The Broad Institute will expand and grow right here in Burlington while its main campus will remain in Kendall Square.
With 270,000 square feet between them, 25-27 Network Drive is the perfect location for both companies to grow. These two giants prove Burlington will also continue to flourish as a leading spot for the life sciences especially since additional commercial spaces are available on Network Drive and throughout Burlington.
On February 2nd, Vericel announced in a press release, “that it has entered into a long-term lease agreement for a new state-of-the-art advanced cell therapy manufacturing and corporate headquarters facility.”
Later that month, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard announced they too would be considering Burlington as a place to expand their campus, but confirmed they would stay in Kendall Square.
Quickly things fell into place and now both companies have officially signed their leases and permits approved by the Burlington Planning Board.
Due to the requirements of both companies and the biotechnology lab space required for their expansions, 25-27 Network Drive will be changing. As reported by the Boston Globe in May 2022, “construction is underway on the 270,000-square-foot building, which will cost around $200 million to develop”
With Vericel and The Broad Institute arriving in Burlington sometime in 2024, we can expect a combined 700 employees at 25-27 Network Drive. As Planning Board member Ernest Covino said during a planning board meeting, “It is great to see such a prestigious company select Burlington out of 40 other locations.”
During the same planning board meeting, Economic Development Director Melissa Tintocolis stated, “This is a great addition and shows that mixed use, walkability and public transportation, all supports what we want to bring to Burlington.”