Bristol-Myers Squibb is officially launching operations at the newest building to its Redwood City, CA research and development campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

The newly-opened site is to serve as Bristol-Myers Squibb’s biologics discovery center, focusing primarily on cancer-immunotherapies, which are drugs that manipulate the immune system so that the body’s own defensive network recognizes and attacks tumors. Global design firm Stantec provided architecture, interior design, lab planning, and complete engineering on the 62,000-square-foot structure.

The new lab and office space houses a state-of-the-art research facility, complete with well thought-out research and material flows, security controls, collaboration spaces, safety considerations and interactive lab and office arrangements. The expansion adds a third building—housing just over 300 employees—to Bristol-MyersSquibb’s Bay Area hub for discovering pioneering cancer therapies, bringing the company’s local footprint to 256,000 square feet. 

“We are honored to have had the privilege of spearheading the design and construction of this industry-leading center that sits at the forefront of critical cancer research,”said Tony Rao, Stantec’s senior principal and science & technology sector leader. “Our design experts are committed to making sure that vital research has a home and afuture, and we’re excited to see this new, collaborative workspace open its doors.”

The new Redwood City facility is designed to set a new standard in energy and water efficiency, and is the first Bristol-Myers Squibb site to undertake the “Energy Star Challenge for Industry”—a program that requires a 10 percent reduction in energy usage over the next five years.