By John George – Senior Reporter, Philadelphia Business Journal
The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County is exploring further expansion.
The center is looking at developing a new laboratory and office building on a 2.85-acre lot directly across the street from its campus at 3805 Old Easton Road in Buckingham Township, near its Doylestown border.
The vacant property, owned by the Fred Beans Automotive Group, was previously home to a swimming pool construction company.
The Bucks County Industrial Development Authority recently received a $150,000 state grant from the PA SITES (Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) program to fund engineering costs for a feasibility study on the potential expansion.
While specific plans are still in development, the proposed structure would likely span 30,000 to 35,000 square feet and could support a range of life sciences uses.
"We’re a big believer in the Doylestown biotech corridor," said Lou Kassa, CEO of the Pennsylvania Biotech Center. "While the industry currently is in a slowdown, we still see great possibilities ahead."
The Pennsylvania Biotech Center operates B+labs at the Cira Centre in University City. B+labs, which last year doubled in size to four floors comprising 100,000 square feet at Cira Centre, is home to 19 resident companies.
Its Bucks County campus, which has about 100 members, including 58 companies and four nonprofits, consists of four buildings totaling 150,000 square feet. Its most recent building addition occurred in 2022, when its opened a $13 million, 37,000-square-foot building that housed an auditorium, a cafeteria, and expanded lab, freezer and office space.
Kassa said the organization recently had to turn down a request for space at the Bucks County center because the company needed more space than what is available.
Along with the potential for further growth in biotech, the Pennsylvania Biotech Center sees opportunities in other areas such as radiopharmaceuticals, animal health and agricultural sciences, Kassa said.
"We also anticipate working with AI innovators in various aspects of biotech and the life sciences," he said.
If the center moves forward with the project, it is not planning to purchase the property but would instead be the operator of the new building in a partnership with the Fred Beans Automotive Group.
Full story: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2025/10/14/pennsylvania-biotechnology-center-bucks-county.html
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