Early December 2020, Matan Companies announced plans for over two million square feet of new bio manufacturing ready space along the I-270 Corridor, between NIH in Bethesda and Fort Detrick in Frederick.
The six proposed projects will be marketed under the brand: “Progress Labs” and will include sites in Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown and Frederick. Matan, which has committed over 200 acres of zoned land, plans to begin delivering these products in June 2021.
Progress Labs At Riverside
The planned Frederick-based facility will be located at 8484 Progress Drive, adjacent to the National Cancer Institute’s National Laboratory at Riverside Research Park.
The project will feature:
A newly-constructed high-bay manufacturing and warehouse building
With a 71,413 SF footprint and up to 118,600 SF in total space including the mezzanine & second floor
The conversion of an existing 96,400 SF three-story office building into a state-of-the-art biotech workplace
A connecting link, containing a main entry lobby to the south and a service & truck dock space to the north, will unite the existing space with the new space.
The new facility will also feature a 11,500 SF secure outdoor equipment & service yard that supports the manufacturing and laboratory facilities. The labs will also have access to nearly 1000 well-lit parking spaces for staff and visitors, as well as 4 truck drops.
Rising Market Demand
“We have seen a noticeable uptick in the demand for biotech manufacturing and support space in the I-270 Corridor, even before the pandemic,” said Matan Principal Mark Matan. “What has become clear during the pursuit of these opportunities is that there is very limited or no new inventory, prompting our decision to move forward with these projects ahead of the arrival of an end user.”
The high local demand for this type of space is due in large part to Frederick’s rising status — nation-wide — as a center for life sciences. Already over 80 bioscience companies are located in Frederick County, making it the second largest cluster of bioscience companies in Maryland. The growing hub is anchored by one of the world’s most prominent research installments - Fort Detrick, as well as a number of high-profile private companies, including: AstraZeneca, Kite Pharma, Leidos, Lonza, and Thermo Fisher. New researchers & manufacturers continue to flock to the collaborative environment.
Delivering a Unique Product
Rendering from Matan, Inc.
Many current real estate offerings to bio users are focused around converting empty office buildings into lab space. However, this strategy has major limitations, including in product turnaround time and the ability to effectively meet industry-specific design needs.
Progress Labs, on the other hand, is a ground-up approach that will offer new, state-of-the-art, speculative flexible assets that can accommodate a wide range of bio users and their supply chain. Matan’s proactive construction will considerably cut the lead time associated with most bio developments.
“Frederick has become a magnet for life science companies looking to start and expand. One of the critical decision-making factors in site selection that we see time and again is the speed at which a property can be delivered to operational use. This strategic project taken on by Matan, coupled with our local commitment to a fast & transparent permitting process, creates an exciting competitive advantage in drawing even more biotech companies to our community.”
Learn more about Progress Labs at Riverside HERE
If you are interested in learning more about the growth of the life sciences industry in The City of Frederick, contact the Department of Economic Development at business@cityoffrederickmd.gov.