Tech Talk: Los Angeles – Biotech’s Next Frontier
When people think of U.S. biotech hubs, cities like Boston, San Francisco and San Diego dominate the conversation. However, the greater Los Angeles area is quietly emerging as a major player, offering advantages that many cities can’t match. With ample space, lower costs and a rich talent pool, it is fast becoming a prime destination for biotech companies, developers and investors. Here’s a deeper look into some of the drivers in this movement.
Room to Grow
The Los Angeles area boasts plenty of space for development. From Pasadena to Thousand Oaks and Orange County, the region offers a variety of sub-clusters, enabling biotech firms to choose locations tailored to their needs. With a decentralized landscape that allows for flexibility – firms can prioritize proximity to talent, pilot manufacturing or other key resources. This flexibility supports large, campus-style developments integrating labs, manufacturing and research facilities.
The region’s “organic” growth model is a strength. As opposed to rigid, centralized planning, LA and its neighboring counties encourage clusters tailored to the specific needs of each area. Developers and tenants can focus on creating self-sufficient campuses with robust infrastructure, redundancy, and amenities that prioritize scientific advancement.
Talent and Innovation
LA County is home to world-class institutions like Caltech, UCLA and USC, which fuel biotech innovation and provide a steady talent pipeline. These universities drive leading-edge research in specialty areas such as therapeutics, gene therapy, and digital health while enabling collaboration between academia and industry. The ability to transition discoveries quickly from research labs to commercial applications creates a unique dynamic, making it an ideal environment for growth.
Biotech firms in LA increasingly focus on data-driven research, cell-based biology, and rare disease therapeutics. This shift underscores the importance of tailoring facilities to meet specific end-user needs – whether for computational research or advanced drug discovery.
Overcoming Barriers
Despite relatively high construction costs and interest rates, the size and diversity of the LA area help ease financial pressures. Competitive bidding and an ecosystem of experienced builders create opportunities for cost-effective development. While the latest ‘Class A’ office amenities are increasingly enticing to life sciences tenants, the region also excels in offering infrastructure that supports innovation such as pilot production, abundant utilities, redundancies, and highly adaptable lab space.
COVID-19 also influenced development trends, with many firms opting for conversions over ground-up construction to accelerate timelines. Moving forward, the trend is shifting toward consolidated campus models that integrate research, manufacturing, and centralized infrastructure in a single location. These developments reflect the area’s ability to adapt to evolving industry needs, ensuring long-term value for tenants.
Future-Proofing LA Biotech
Future-ready lab spaces in the greater LA region are focused less on luxury and more on functionality. Designers prioritize flexible infrastructure that accommodates a range of research types, from cell-based biology to computational science. Advanced analytics and integrated building technologies are becoming central to creating efficient, scalable environments for research.
With its unique mix of available space, top-tier institutions and competitive development costs, Los Angeles is poised to claim its place among the top biotech hubs. For investors, developers, and biotech firms seeking growth opportunities, the area offers a combination of space, talent, research facilities, and creativity. The region’s ecosystem of sub-clusters and commitment to sustainability and scientific advancement add to its promise as a life sciences center.
For well over 20 years, Tad Costerison, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Senior Project Architect, has designed leading science and technology facilities that allow researchers and scientists to develop cutting edge technologies.
Jessica Schmitzberger, RA, NCARB, Project Director & SoCal Regional Operations Manager leads Taylor Design’s growing Science + Technology studio in Southern California.
