Biogen to Establish New Global HQ and Innovation Hub in Massachusetts by 2028

Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/Tada Images

Biogen has announced plans to establish a new global headquarters and innovation hub in Cambridge, Mass., which will integrate its research and development, technical operations, and commercial teams into a single collaborative space. As part of a multi-year real estate strategy, the company will open the 580,000-square-foot facility in 2028 to coincide with its 50th anniversary.¹

“Nearly 50 years after first putting down roots in Kendall Square, Biogen is embarking on a new chapter in the very heart of the community that has shaped our success,” said Christopher A. Viehbacher, president, CEO, Biogen, in a press release. “Our new space will support the advancement of our pipeline of breakthrough medicines by bringing our employees together and fostering collaboration with leading scientific minds, key partners, and top talent.”

As part of its expansion, Biogen has signed a 15-year lease for the Kendall Common development project. The building is being developed through a partnership between MIT Investment Management Company and BioMed Realty, a Blackstone Real Estate portfolio company.¹

“It’s fitting that Biogen—a company with such close ties to people at MIT—will make Kendall Common’s first building its new home,” said Sally Kornbluth, president, MIT, in the press release. “The motto of Kendall Square might as well be 'talent in proximity' and Biogen's decision to intensify its presence here promises great things for the whole ecosystem. To achieve this milestone on the occasion of the company’s 50th anniversary is especially meaningful. We are grateful to Chris Viehbacher, president and chief executive officer of Biogen, for his keen vision of the future and his ongoing commitment to Cambridge and Kendall Square.”

A key feature of the facility will be the Biogen CoLab, a community-focused laboratory designed as a collaborative learning space. Bringing together Biogen scientists, nonprofits, and academic institutions, the CoLab will aim to provide students and professionals with opportunities to explore and prepare for careers in life sciences and healthcare. According to Biogen, it will also serve as both an entry point to the company and a hub for talent development and industry innovation.¹

“Biogen has been a foundational presence in the Massachusetts life science ecosystem for close to half a century, and we are thrilled to see them begin a new era in our state,” said Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts, in the press release. “This milestone is an example of why Massachusetts remains the center for long-term growth and opportunity in the life sciences. Our administration continues to make investments in the sector in order to help create more companies and jobs that lead to innovative new treatments for patients.”

Biogen plans to be the sole occupant of the new facility, aiming to optimize its real estate footprint in Cambridge while fostering greater collaboration among employees and external partners.¹

“Massachusetts is the global leader in biotechnology because Biogen pioneered a scientific revolution decades ago. The decision by Biogen today to develop a new hub here goes to the very core of what makes this ecosystem great: collaboration, talent, and institutions,” said Kendalle Burlin O’Connell, CEO, President, MassBio, in the press release. “This is the place patients around the world look to for lifesaving medicines and with this new facility, Biogen is breaking ground on the future of biomedical innovation and solidifying the Commonwealth’s dominance in healthcare.”

Reference

1. Biogen Announces Plans for New Global Headquarters and Innovation Hub in Kendall Square. Biogen. March 24, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://investors.biogen.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biogen-announces-plans-new-global-headquarters-and-innovation#:~:text=Biogen's%20history%20in%20the%20region,and%20headquarters%20in%20Kendall%20Square.