Berkeley Garbe begins construction of 150,000 s/f flex/R&D building in Billerica

Billerica, MA This new advanced manufacturing and innovation hub is taking shape along the Rte. 3 corridor, one of Greater Boston’s most established centers for technology and industrial growth. Situated on 23 acres off Rte. 3 and 20 minutes north of Boston and Cambridge, 161 Concord Rd. is being developed by Berkeley Garbe to meet growing demand from advanced manufacturing and R&D sectors that have long fueled the region’s economy. The project can support a range of high-growth industries, including aerospace, robotics, life sciences, medical devices, semiconductor manufacturing, computer hardware, and battery technologies. As investment in AI-related infrastructure accelerates, the development is positioned to serve companies requiring specialized facilities and access to a highly skilled technical and engineering workforce located in communities north of Boston and into southern New Hampshire.

“As manufacturing and innovation sectors continue to expand along the Rte. 3 and I-93 corridors, many companies are being constrained by an aging inventory of flex and R&D facilities that no longer meet modern operational requirements,” said Dan McGrath, senior vice president and director of asset management for Berkeley Garbe. “Today’s tenants require greater flexibility, upgraded infrastructure, and specialized building systems to support increasingly sophisticated manufacturing and research activities. Even before construction and leasing efforts formally began, we saw strong interest from prospective tenants, underscoring the demand for next-generation industrial and R&D space in this market. We believe 161 Concord is uniquely positioned to meet that need and will support the continued growth of innovative companies across the region.”

Site work and construction are now well underway at the site in order to achieve completion by April 2027. 

“Berkeley Garbe is developing the building entirely on spec in order to be ready to accommodate the timing requirements of tenants in the market,” said McGrath. “161 Concord Rd. is being designed as a modern flex property to accommodate the evolving needs of these advanced manufacturing and R&D companies. We’ve commenced construction now in order to meet the accelerated occupancy timelines many of these companies require.”

Berkeley Garbe has engaged Jason Levendusky, Michael Dalton, and their team at Avison Young to serve as the exclusive leasing agent for the property. In addition to offering a new, modern flex building with 28-ft. ceilings, 161 Concord offers loading, 264 parking spaces, an existing dedicated traffic signal and turn-lane, substantial power capacity, and the opportunity to add a second level mezzanine if required by future tenants. According to Levendusky, principal at Avison Young, “The advanced manufacturing and technology sectors north of Boston have been a bright spot in the Greater Boston economy, but many of these companies struggle to find real estate that meets their overall needs. 161 Concord provides an ideal location for talent retention while also offering the combination of critical building infrastructure, curb appeal, and compelling, cost-effective rents. The building is easily sub-dividable and can accommodate companies ranging from full-building users to smaller, growing companies who may be looking for the potential to expand.”

Berkeley originally purchased the 161 Concord property in 2022 and successfully rezoned and permitted the site to accommodate an advanced GMP manufacturing facility. With demand slow to materialize in that sector, Berkeley worked collaboratively with the town of Billerica to re-envision the development as a more adaptable flex/R&D property and successfully re-permitted the project in a matter of months. Beyond activating this site as an engine of economic growth for Billerica, the development of 161 Concord also includes construction of portions of the future Yankee Doodle Bike Path and the transfer of more than 2.5 acres to the town of Billerica as conservation land. “Collaborating with town officials in Billerica has been an incredibly productive partnership,” said Esther Byun, senior director of development at Berkeley Garbe. “Together, we have worked to attract meaningful investment and advance economic development in the town, while strengthening the municipal tax base and long-term financial stability of the community. The Rte. 3 corridor has established itself as a critical hub for innovation and advanced industry, attracting world-class companies and professional talent. We’re proud to invest in that momentum and deliver a dynamic site that will help support the next wave of growth, innovation, and job creation across the region.”

*Please note: Berkeley Garbe is the new strategic joint venture recently formed by Berkeley Investments and Hamburg-based GARBE. The formal and correct name of the new company is Berkeley Garbe.