National Biocontainment Laboratory

Boston University Medical Center (BUMC), a consortium of Boston University and Boston Medical Center, with funding from the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, developed the $200 million National Biocontainment Laboratory in the South End of Boston. The 194,000 square foot project is located in BioSquare Research Park, the City of Boston's only research park devoted exclusively to the life sciences sector, across the street from the BUMC campus. This high profile project was the subject of widespread media attention, extensive regulatory scrutiny, and well-organized community opposition and legal appeals. Key issues of concern included national, regional and local public safety, homeland security, environmental justice, urban design, transportation and traffic, and infrastructure. FPA coordinated the complicated federal, state, and City of Boston environmental review processes, and managed the numerous public hearings and meetings. The construction is complete and the building became operational in 2011.