San Diego-based BioLegend Inc., a biotech firm that develops antibodies and reagents used in biomedical research, has broken ground on the second phase of its Sorrento Mesa campus. Scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2019, the $100M project will expand the company’s facilities to 128K SF.

Designed by local architect Delawie and built by DPR Construction, the eight-acre project involves renovation of the existing 44K SF building, adding a 90K building with lab and office space and a seven-story, 700-stall parking structure, as well as expanding the central plant. The design provides an immersive campus environment with workflow adjacencies, lots of natural daylight, expansive views and flexible laboratory spaces.

With completion of Phase 1 of the campus, BioLegend re-evaluated its priorities and developed a fresher design for the build-out of the campus, BioLegend CEO and founder Gene Lay said in a press release.

“We took a close look at ourselves as a company, as a family, and decided to prioritize specific features that prove we value our team, encourage collaboration between departments and provide functional and efficient lab space.”

Millennials make up a large portion of the BioLegend workforce, he said.

“They are creative and encourage us to view processes and operations in a different way. Everyone on our team works incredibly hard, so the gym, kitchen, yoga rooms, game room and other amenity spaces will encourage even more collaboration and relaxation between focused sessions,” he said.

Cross-functionality to increase efficiency between departments was key to the design, BioLegend Human Resources Vice President Kim Clark said.

“The office space is welcoming and encourages collaboration but will also offer workstations and private rooms for focused efforts,” she said.

The new four-story building features lab space with open floor plans and creative office space to encourage collaboration. Labs, offices, break rooms and conference rooms are strategically placed to encourage interaction.

The project features a 500-person multipurpose room that opens onto a green roof, outdoor spaces with seating and picnic tables scattered throughout the campus and a large atrium/courtyard that serves as a lunch/break area by day, an event space in the evening and brings daylight inside. The atrium connects to the administrative offices and amenities building in the refurbished building via a pedestrian bridge.