Longfellow Real Estate Partners has completed the Bioterra campus in the Sorrento Mesa submarket of San Diego, delivering approximately 323,000 square feet of Class-A life-science space. The development marks Longfellow’s first ground-up build in San Diego, positioning it to serve biotech and laboratory tenants with high-spec infrastructure and amenities. The project comes amid strong demand for lab space in the San Diego life-science market, particularly in the Sorrento Mesa and Sorrento Valley clusters.
Why Location and Design Matter in Sorrento Mesa
The Sorrento Mesa submarket is emerging as a key node for life-science tenants in San Diego, benefiting from proximity to research institutions and major transport links. The Bioterra campus, with its large floor plates and lab-ready infrastructure, enables flexible tenancy, from start-up scale to large occupiers. Moreover, the inclusion of a rooftop patio, fitness amenities and café elevates the tenant experience, supporting long-term lease appeal. Longfellow’s decision to design the building with all-electric HVAC and ESG-certified credentials addresses growing tenant demand for sustainability and operational efficiency.
Project Factsheet
Location: Oberlin Dr & Mira Mesa Blvd, Sorrento Mesa, San Diego, California, USA
Developer: Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Size: ~323,000 sq ft ground-up life-science campus
Site area: ~4.14 acres
Floors: 5-6 stories above grade, plus subterranean parking
Floor plates: ~50,000–70,000 sq ft flexible floor plates
Sustainability: Designed to LEED Gold and Fitwel standards; San Diego’s first all-electric HVAC life-science building
Amenities: Rooftop patio, fitness centre, café, conference spaces
Accessibility: Near major research institutes (UC San Diego, Salk, Scripps) and freeways I-5/I-805
Financing: ~US $202.6 million construction loan secured in December 2022
Market context: Delivered amidst high life-science market growth and tight lab vacancy in San Diego
Delivery timing: Completion noted in Q4 2024 according to market data
Tenant target: Biotech, research & development firms looking for premium lab-office space
Market Implications and Developer Strategy
By delivering Bioterra, Longfellow reinforces its leadership in life-science real-estate and deepens exposure in a strong growth market. The ~US $202 million financing suggests robust investor confidence in speculative lab developments in major clusters. For the San Diego market, the project adds significant new-build lab inventory just as vacancy remains at low levels and rental rates hold firm. Given the scale and amenity mix, Bioterra sets a new benchmark for life-science campuses in the region.
Outlook and Strategic Take-aways
As biotech and life-science companies expand in San Diego, purpose-built lab-office campuses like Bioterra are increasingly sought after. The project’s blend of flexibility, sustainability, and tenant-centric amenities positions it well for leasing momentum in the coming years. For Longfellow, the successful execution in Sorrento Mesa may pave the way for further ground-up development in other life-science growth markets. This trend aligns with broader investments in U.S. biomanufacturing, such as Gilead Sciences’ new manufacturing and R&D facility in California. Analysts will monitor lease-up pace, tenant mix, and how the project influences rent trajectories and lab-space supply in San Diego’s evolving ecosystem.
