This Chiron PUD/PDP called for construction of 14 new buildings, including 7 laboratory buildings, 3 office towers, structured parking, and support facilities, over a 30-year period (PDP Boundary and Illustrative Site Plan(PDF, 178KB)). Construction under the PUD/PDP has included one laboratory building ("Building 4") at Hollis and 53rd Street and a central utility plant (“Building 7a”) on Chiron Way, one parking structure (“Building 12a”) on Horton Street; and a park (“Hollis Green”) at 53rd and Hollis Streets.
In 2006, Chiron was acquired by the multinational Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis. In November 2013, the diagnostics unit of Novartis was sold to Grifols, a multinational pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer based in Barcelona, Spain. The remaining Novartis potion of the PUD was acquired by Biomed Realty (“BMR”), a developer of life sciences properties that is owned by the Blackstone Group, on March 15, 2019. Today, BMR and Grifols share the Emeryville campus, with each firm owning different buildings and facilities. (Existing Conditions Within PDP Area on BMR Properties(PDF, 265KB)).
As part of the approved PUD/PDP, in October 2019 BMR applied for a Final Development Plan (FDP19-002) for four new research and development buildings totaling approximately 911,800 square feet; a new 1,9991-space parking garage on Horton Street; and approximately 131,507 square feet of publicly accessible open space. The Planning Commission approved the project on February 25, 2021, after holding three study sessions on December 12, 2019, April 23, 2020 and August 27, 2020.
The table below illustrates overall details of each of the five proposed BMR buildings:
| Building |
Maximum Height |
# Occupied Floors |
Approximate Maximum Size |
| B1 |
178 ft. |
11 |
300,000 sq. ft. |
| B2/3 |
114 ft. |
7 |
261,300 sq. ft. |
| B8A |
135.5 ft. |
7 |
221,000 sq. ft. |
| B8B |
103.5 ft. |
5 |
129,500 sq. ft |
| B13/14 (parking garage) |
102.8 ft. |
11 levels (including grade and roof)
|
1,991 spaces |