Merck Goes Back to School with $100 Million Research Center in Boston

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Inc.; Houston, Texas). Merck & Company, Incorporated (NYSE: MRK) (Whitehouse Station, NJ) has embraced the growing trend of partnerships between Pharmaceutical-Biotech companies and educational institutions. Merck is constructing its 11th major research center in the U.S. The new research center is a partnership with private Emmanuel College. Construction began in October 2001 on the new facility, which is located on the campus of Emmanuel in the Fenway section of Boston. The project, known as Merck Research Laboratories-Boston, is the company's first development in the area.

In this case, Merck is the benevolent partner, a switch from the more traditional situation of universities incubating biotech start-ups that benefit from the university's facilities and contacts. While this partnership will provide Merck with expanded new drug development capabilities and a positive public relations spin, Emmanuel and the surrounding neighborhood will benefit in a multitude of ways. The agreement provides for new campus residence halls and students will be offered Merck internships. Faculty, staff, and local medical facilities will have access to Merck's state of the art center and technology. Merck also directly contributed $490,000 in community benefits to a cross section of community organizations, thereby ensuring their welcome in the Fenway neighborhood.

With a glass fagade, the center will be a total of 300,000 square feet, with 12 stories above ground and six below. The building was designed to blend in with the existing architectural ambience of both Emmanuel and the local area. With completion anticipated in early 2004, Merck estimates approximately 300 scientists, administrators, and support staff will be employed at the facility. Bovis Lend Lease (New York, NY) is handling construction management for the project.