Over the years, Coakley & Williams has worked with biopharma and life sciences companies of differing sizes, from newer small organizations to larger established companies like Kite, AstraZeneca and Thermo Fisher Dynamic. Adapting to changing needs in the midst of construction is an important capability when it comes to constructing new manufacturing facilities in the life sciences industry, Caulfield said.
“Being nimble, responsive, and empowering our project teams is what differentiates us from a number of the big national contractors,” Caulfield said.
As an example, he pointed to Coakley & Williams current project with Kite Pharma to build a biomanufacturing facility to produce T-Cell immunotherapies for treating cancer. The Kite Pharma TCF05 Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility in Urbana will be a one-of-a-kind, cutting-edge biomanufacturing facility, he said. Caulfield explained how Kite developed a much more efficient process for manufacturing its cell therapies that now requires half the square footage that the originally process required and Coakley & Williams adapted the design of the building to accommodate this development. Caulfield said Kite will now have surplus space that can be dedicated to additional lifesaving initiatives.
The current vacancy rate for traditional lab space in the DMV is about 3% making it difficult for many life sciences companies to find adequate space. To respond to this shortage, Coakley & Williams has put a focus on repurposing existing buildings into spec space that is suitable for a life sciences user. Caulfield cited as an example 700 Quince Orchard, a 1960s era building, that he just converted into Novavax’s new headquarters in Gaithersburg.
Speed to market is paramount in the life sciences sector. “These companies are in the lifesaving business, so they have an urgency that’s not seen in other for-profit industries,” he said.
Caulfield added that many of the Coakley & Williams’ 135 full-time employees have friends and family members who face the challenges of cancer and other diseases. By contributing to the mission of life sciences companies, Caulfield said Coakley & Williams’ employees find a sense of purpose in the work they do.
It’s not just life sciences companies that can require those sudden changes. Caulfield said the technology sector can also see sudden advances that call for a shift in construction planning.
“The design of the building tends to evolve during the process because technology is changing so fast, and we want to make sure that the demand for state-of-the art technology has been met when we turn over the keys,” he said.
Caulfield said Coakley & Williams has always been thrilled to work in Maryland. He said the DMV area has a vibrant economy that offers relatively affordable real estate when comparing the DMV area to leading biopharma hubs in Boston and San Francisco, and he said the high cost of real estate in those other markets can be prohibitive to many smaller companies. The comparative price of real estate, as well as the availability of state and local tax incentives for businesses makes Maryland an appealing place, he said. Caulfield also touted a highly educated workforce in Maryland and noted one of Coakley & Williams’ most important resources is its local subcontractor relationships the company has fostered over its 60 years in business.
“Maryland is just a great place to live and do business,” he said.
