Colorado-Real-Estate-Journal_455380

INSIDE Elements Research Center is being reimagined as a life sciences hub Demand is driving senior housing occupancy rates in Colorado, nation Life sciences Senior living PAGE 14 PAGE 16 Leaning into adaptive reuse to address our mental health crisis Health care PAGE 8 April 2025 G roundbreaking science and innovative technologies continue to drive progress, even amid market fluctua- tions – a trend set to con- tinue. In 2024, the FD A approved 50 new drugs, with the list spanning transformative therapies and show- casing many emerging companies, making a larger impact on the R&D pipeline. Life sciences mergers and acquisitions continued to show strength, with $214 billion closed or announced in 2024, and venture capital funding globally outpaced pre-COVID and long-term averages. Despite challenges, the life sci- ences industry remains resilient and vital, showcasing its adaptability and capacity to thrive amid shifting mar- ket dynamics. To enable the contin- ued expansion of our nation’s life science and biotech industries, real estate providers must consider fac- tors like company size and geography. By tailoring real estate solutions to the needs of each company, life sci- ence real estate providers can effec- tively partner with their tenants and become a catalyst for innovation rather than a barrier. n How location shapes life sci- ence real estate strategies. There are several life science hubs in the U.S., each with different features and demographics that real estate providers need to consider to ensure they can support tenant growth and innovation. This includes talent availability, funding ecosystems and regional industry focus. In fact, the Boulder region is rapidly becoming a U.S. biotech hub, home to over 300 biotech companies, and is continu- ing to grow. With the nation’s most highly educated population, Boul- der offers an ideal environment for attracting and retaining top talent. Its proximity to the University of Colorado Boulder and major research facilities further solidifies the region's status as a hub for biosci- ence innovation and breakthroughs. As an emerging life science market, Boulder hosts many early stage life science companies with distinct lab and real estate needs compared to more established biotech compa- nies. These companies greatly ben- efit from flexible lab space and the inherent nature of research parks that encourage conversations, col- laboration and innovation. Mike Ruhl Vice president, BioMed Realty Please see Ruhl, Page 12 Why life science growth depends on smarter real estate BioMed Realty acquired 1 million square feet across 23 buildings within Flatiron Park in 2022.