Cambridge, MA The Davis Companies (TDC) has leased 48,700 s/f of office and laboratory space at the new Alewife Research Center (ARC) to Eisai Inc., a Japanese pharmaceutical conglomerate.

Known as the Eisai Center for Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery, Eisai will relocate from its current site in Andover, to the ARC’s new facility and commence operations in the first quarter of 2019. 

Developed by TDC, ARC is a class A, LEED Silver Certified, 224,000 s/f laboratory building with ground-floor retail. Located at 35 CambridgePark Dr., the facility is scheduled for completion by October 1. The transit-oriented, five-story facility is located next to the Alewife Station, close to both Kendall Sq. and Harvard Sq. via the Red Line and accessible from the MetroWest suburbs via Rte. 2. This location also offers tenants parking with 331 parking spaces.

“We are excited to attract an international firm such as Eisai as our first full floor tenant at the Alewife Research Center,” said Brian Fallon, president of TDC Development Group. “We are on target to pre-lease most of the ARC’s available space before completing construction on the facility this fall. The Alewife area is emerging as a leading life science cluster in New England, as companies pursue expansion opportunities outside the traditional Kendall Sq. area in East Cambridge. The ARC gives life science companies greater access to talent as well as the flexibility to foster collaboration with research institutes and strategic partners.”

The ARC provides space for growing companies seeking modern, new construction with an on-site parking garage and amenities. The ARC features a lobby with a two-story atrium and gathering spaces; flexible laboratory and R&D space; an employee lounge; conference meeting area; a fitness workout area with showers and lockers; and a bike room with secure storage. The ARC will also provide abundant green space with outdoor seating and retail vendors.

“With such robust demand for laboratory space across much of Boston, the ARC could not have come at a better time,” said Mark Winters, executive managing director of Newmark Knight Frank. “This project gives tenants a new, best-in-class laboratory building in a market with little vacancy and offers a value alternative for rents that are lower than East Cambridge.”