Life sciences with a touch of brine proposed for Flynn Marine Park

A trio of developers have filed plans for a seven-story life-sciences R&D building at 22 Drydock Ave. in the Raymond Flynn Marine Park that will include space for the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, which does life-sciences research focused on ocean life, and which plans to use its space for entry-level life-sciences training for BPS students.

The former marine industrial park was established to give ocean-related businesses a way to stay in Boston; in recent years, the BPDA has encouraged a growing number of non-marine buildings in the 191-acre park, but has tried to stay true to the "marine" origins by requiring developers to set aside space for current or possible future marine uses.

Under the detailed plans submitted yesterday by Related Beal, Boston Real Estate Inclusion Fund and Kavanagh Advisory Group, the genomics institute would move into space on the first floor and use part of it for its ongoing research into the DNA of marine creatures, but also:

GMGI will use this space to further their mission of training students for careers as entry-level technicians in biotech and bio manufacturing labs. They will specifically seek to connect students at local Boston public schools with these opportunities to ensure these jobs created as a result of Boston’s life science boom are going to residents of the local communities. ...

With the unprecedented growth in the biotechnology industry in Boston in recent years, the City is at a critical juncture to meet increasing workforce demand at all wage levels. GMGI is a world-class marine biotechnology research institute that creates a vibrant science learning environment through vocational programs that educate high school graduates for careers as lab technicians, as well as offering educational programs to local middle and high school students. Their unique lab-immersion curriculum integrates modern laboratory techniques with authentic marine industrial workflows to generate practical results and an enthusiasm for science. ...

Each of the two semesters at GMGI focuses, respectively, on DNA and biomanufacturing, and the new purpose-built space on the ground floor of the proposed project will be able to accommodate both curricula. The 3,600 sf of lab, classroom, office and back of house space will allow students to cultivate their competencies in areas such as the extraction, amplification and sequencing of cod DNA and the cultivation of modern bio-processing techniques including strain engineering, process development and downstream processing to purify samples. Additionally, this space in the middle of the RLFMP would provide GMGI with a greater exposure to local life science tenants and industry partners who could give lectures and mock interviews to students, as well as provide internship and mentoring opportunities.

The first floor would also have space for a restaurant or cafe.

In total, the developers expect the new building to create 900 permanent jobs.

The new building, which would replace two smaller buildings at 20 and 22 Drydock Ave., would have 144 parking spaces in an underground garage.

The building roof will include "a deck with integrated seating and landscape features" as well as an array of solar panels. In addition to the panels, estimated to produce 2% of the building's electricity needs, the developers pledged to obtain up to 40% of the building's electricity from renewable-energy sources.

Because the building would sit at sea level, near the sea, the developers say they would put all of the building's key mechanical systems above the level of a "100-year storm" - and would outfit the building with "a temporary, deployable flood-barrier system to protect the building’s few vulnerable areas, including its loading and receiving area and below-grade parking entrance." The roof would also have space for a larger air-conditioning system to account for higher average temperatures.

The developers hope to begin 30 months of construction in the fall of 2023.

22 Dry Dock Ave. filings and meeting schedule.