Life Science ‘Giants’ Will Bring 700 Jobs To Burlington: EDO

BURLINGTON, MA - A pair of Cambridge-based healthcare companies will soon expand into Burlington, bringing roughly 700 jobs to a facility on Network Drive off Route 3, according to a recent announcement from the Burlington Economic Development Office (EDO).

The Economic Development Office touted the moves last week as the latest in a line of economic development wins for Burlington.

“Network Drive is the perfect location for both companies to grow,” the office wrote. “These two giants prove Burlington will also continue to flourish as a leading spot for the life sciences.”

Vericel and The Broad Institute will, together, occupy a roughly 270,000-square-foot building at 25-27 Network Drive beginning in 2024.

The Boston Globe reported in May that The Broad Institute would take close to 150,000 of the space while Vericel would take the rest.

The Broad Institute is a research center affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. It works in the fields of biomedical research and genomic medicine.

Vericel focuses on advanced therapies for sports medicine and severe burn care patients.

Both The Broad Institute and Vericel are currently based in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge. Vericel will now completely relocate to Burlington, while The Broad Institute will retain its main campus, the Economic Development Office noted.

Both organizations announced their plans to move earlier this year. They then were able to secure necessary leases and permits through the town, according to the Economic Development Office.

Originally pitched as an office building, the now soon-to-be-home for The Broad Institute and Vericel was converted by its developer into lab-use space prior to construction, the Globe reported. Construction was underway as of mid-May.