Throughout nearly five decades, Biogen has been instrumental in transforming and influencing Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, now celebrated as the “most inventive square mile on Earth.” Today, Biogen revealed its plan to consolidate operations at a new facility located at 75 Broadway within MIT’s Kendall Common development. This transition, set for 2028, underscores the company’s dedication to Cambridge and the local innovation ecosystem — a fountain of biomedical breakthroughs.
“It is appropriate that Biogen — a corporation with such strong connections to MIT — will make the inaugural building of Kendall Common its new residence,” remarks MIT President Sally Kornbluth. “The motto of Kendall Square could easily be ‘proximity of talent,’ and Biogen’s choice to deepen its footprint here promises great advancements for the entire ecosystem. Achieving this milestone coinciding with the company’s 50th anniversary holds special significance. We appreciate Chris Viehbacher, president and chief executive officer of Biogen, for his insightful vision for the future and his steadfast dedication to Cambridge and Kendall Square.”
The roughly 580,000-square-foot facility will unite Biogen’s research and development teams alongside its global and North American commercialization divisions. The structure will feature advanced conservation, efficiency, and sustainable design characteristics.
“Biogen’s narrative in Kendall Square is unparalleled,” states Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer. “Institute Professor Phil Sharp’s pioneering work in genetics and molecular biology and his co-founding of Biogen in 1978 propelled life sciences on an ambitious path in the region — and worldwide. MIT’s intertwined legacy with Biogen has advanced societal benefits through substantial research progress — from classroom and laboratory to marketplace — in addressing multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other neuromuscular ailments. I am delighted that our productive collaboration will persist.”
The new structure, designed by Elkus-Manfredi Architects, will enliven the corner at 75 Broadway and protect and enhance the adjoining 6th Street Walkway — a beloved tree-lined route for residents and Kendall employees alike. A collaborative partnership between the MIT Investment Management Company and BioMed Realty, a Blackstone Real Estate portfolio firm, is enabling the progression of the project.
“Ensuring that Biogen remains in Cambridge was a significant priority for us,” states Patrick Rowe, senior vice president in MIT’s real estate division, which is a part of the Institute’s investment management company. “The company’s nearly 50-year legacy is a cornerstone of the Kendall Square innovation ecosystem.”
“We are excited to collaborate with MIT in the creation and activation of this state-of-the-art lab and office facility at the heart of Kendall Square,” comments Bill Kane, BioMed Realty’s president for the East Coast and U.K. markets. “75 Broadway will provide essential infrastructure to Biogen, facilitating the development of the next wave of life-saving medicines and therapies.”
In the end, the 10-acre Kendall Common development will encompass eight structures for residential, office, lab, retail, and community purposes. The project’s decade-long review process and federal agreement culminated in the recent opening of the MIT-constructed John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.