0 Biotech Real Estate Soaring in Kendall Square

The global hot spot for Bio Pharma space is Kendall Square in East Cambridge with 130 life sciences companies in 2.5 square miles.

Boston biotech real estate

Credit: CNBC

From CNBC:

“Of the top 20 pharmas I think probably somewhere between 50 and 75 percent have a presence in and around Cambridge,” said Joel Marcus, CEO of Alexandria Real Estate, the landlord with the biggest market share in the area.

“As tight as the lab market is in Kendall Square, the office market is even more tight, in part because Microsoft and Google are expanding their operations,” MassBio’s Abair said. At the same time though, he noted the proximity of tech and life sciences companies enable cross-industry collaboration.

Follow the link to view a related video on CNBC.

0 Boston Startup moves from Cambridge to Newbury Street to Expand Workforce

Bridj is on the move and parked on Newbury Street.  283/285 Newbury Street offered an experience that aligned well with vision of Matt George, Bridj founder and CEO.  Off street parking, roof deck and 3 floors of creative space.

office space on newbury street

Credit: BBJ

Bridj has elected to share this experience through Pivotdesk, have a look and see if it works for your growing team.

From the Boston Business Journal:

The company moved out of a co-working space at the Cambridge Innovation Center into a 5,400-square-foot space at 283 Newbury St. in Boston earlier this year.

“We were outgrowing the CIC and while co-working spaces are great and they have lots of benefits and amenities, it’s really hard to start building your own culture (there),” said Ryan Kelly, Bridj’s marketing manager.

0 Boston On demand Office Space

I was first introduced to Breather from Will Preap who is the head of Breather’s business development for Boston and got the concept.  The notion that I could have a private meeting/interview in a space outside of the public eye was captivating.  Preap has strong roots to Boston and expects to add 30 location throughout the CBD.  So, questions I get from landlords are, is it safe?  Yes, Breather controls access to the space via a smart phone app.  Prior to getting access, Breather understands the clients social footprint using algorithms that access social media sites to better understand the profile.  Once you have selected the Breather spot you get to the door and Breather provides a one-time access code to the app.  You enter and you meeting commences.  The space is fitted out with smart phone chargers wrapped in a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere complete with WIFI.

The meeting ends and you depart, yes, Breather knows.  Breather then sends their team back into the space to ensure it is ready to go for the next client.

Breather CEO

Pictured above is Justin Harlow of BRA’s Downtown team @ 715 Boylston Street.

0 Milk Street Lands Japan’s Ogawa Coffee

Milk Street coffee shop

Credit: Eater

The coffee situation is changing on Milk Street and with be the first U.S. location for Ogawa Coffee.  10 Milk Street owned by Synergy Investments landed the Oqawa Coffee headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. Boston was their first location based in part to the similarities such as rich history, college students and international visitors.

From Eater:

According to a Boston University professor and author of the book Coffee Life in Japan, Japan is one of the world’s top three consumers of coffee, along with the United States and Germany, and it brews its coffee the strongest, Viser wrote. In Japan, brewed coffee is the main focus; the October 2014 Globe article surmised that the forthcoming Ogawa will offer more espresso options to cater to the Boston-area market.

0 Multiple Projects from Boston Properties Progressing

Boston office development north station

Credit: Boston Herald

Boston Properties is bullish on Boston with projects underway or proposed from Back Bay, Financial District and North Station.

·         888 Boylston has seen the crane arrive and has announced is major tenant Natixis Global Asset Management
·         100 Federal Street is looking to add more retail on the Congress Street side of the project

From the Boston Herald:

“In 2015, we estimate we could move approximately $1 billion in pre-development projects into our active development pipeline,” CEO Owen Thomas said. “Before launching any of these projects, we need to complete the entitlement and planning process and, in most cases, some level of pre-leasing.”

0 On-demand Meeting Rooms in Boston

So, it is best described as office space between Starbucks and any number of the temporary groups that provide contractual services for office space.  Breather is space for only when you need it.  Imagine that you are interviewing a person that will be replacing a person on your team.  The last thing you would want to do is have that meeting internally, you could go to Starbucks, but you might get seen by a coworker.  Now come breather, have a meeting in a private space within close proximately to your office and schedule the space for 30 minutes.  Best of all, its done from your phone.  Boston Realty Advisors has been assisting Breather find new spots in the city.

Meeting rooms for rent in Boston

Credit: bizjournals.com

From the Boston Business Journal:

Bostonians will now have access to five private spaces in the Back Bay and Cambridge area with a tap of their phones, with [Breather] locations that include: 715 Boylston St., two spaces at 36 Gloucester Street, and two spaces at 1158 Mass. Ave. in Harvard Square.

0 Newest Fan Pier Tower Renderings Released

Fan Pier Tower in Boston

Credit: Banker and Tradesman

What will the next piece of Fallon Co’s project look like?  Designs have been released according to the plans submitted by Elkus Manfredi Architects.

From Banker&Tradesman:

City officials are reviewing designs for 50 Liberty Drive, a 14-story complex on the South Boston waterfront. The L-shaped condo tower would be built on parcel D, which sits directly east of the 109-unit Twenty Two Liberty condo tower now under construction. The new building would include 15,000 square feet of civic and retail space, including areas used by the New England Aquarium, Boston Children’s Museum and the Boston Harbor Island Alliance.

The 21-acre Fan Pier project will contain up to 3 million square feet of mixed-use development. The Boston Fan Pier development, a 252,000-square-foot condo tower, is expected to break ground in late summer.

0 Pier 4 Redevelopment Draws International Investment

Real Estate investment in Boston grows to the four corners of the world with an investment into Pier 4 with Tishman Speyer.

Pier 4 Boston Seaport

Credit: WSJ

From the Wall Street Journal:

China’s two largest insurance companies are making their first investment in U.S. commercial real estate, buying a majority stake in a $500 million project in Boston…The Boston development includes a 13-story office building and a nine-story condominium tower with 100 units. The project in the city’s popular Seaport District will take up most of Pier 4, which was known for Anthony’s Pier 4, a popular restaurant that was closed two years ago as plans for redeveloping the site progressed.

0 The Landmark Building at 160 Federal St. Sold to Beacon Capital

Landmark Building, 160 Federal St.

Credit: BBJ

Beacon Capital continues to add to their portfolio by purchasing 160 Federal Street with is located at the corner of Federal St. and High St.

According to the BBJ, “the deal for the 351,000-square-foot, 24-story Landmark Building “was financed with a $96.2 million mortgage from Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., a separate Suffolk County record shows. The mortgage was executed April 10…Taurus bought 160 Federal St. in April 2007 for $101.4 million, Suffolk County records show.”

Additional details are available on the Bizjournals.com.

0 115 Winthrop Square Considered for Boston’s Second-Tallest Building

rendering of 115 Winthrop Square

Credit: Banker&Tradesman

The Boston skyline is poised to see significant change of the next five years as projects that are under construction come online.  115 Winthrop Square is getting attention and might be home to Boston’s second tallest building if O’Brien has anything to do with it.

According to Banker&Tradesman, “developer Thomas O’Brien of Boston-based HYM Investments is proposing a 69-story, 780-foot-tall residential tower that would become the city’s second-tallest building, just 10 feet shy of the Hancock Tower…O’Brien was one of eight developers who submitted proposals to build a skyscraper in the Financial District. The Boston Redevelopment Authority sought proposals for a one-acre parcel currently occupied by the municipal garage at 115 Winthrop Square. O’Brien’s plan calls for a substantial redevelopment of the square, including a new Boston public school and a relocated St. Anthony Shrine, friary and ministry center. Under the O’Brien proposal, the church properties and school would be built on the former garage site and a residential tower with 11,000-square-foot floor plates would be built on the former shrine property.”

The HYM Investment Group can be seen, here.