The Michigan State University Grand Rapids Innovation Park, which opened in 2017, will add a second phase that includes 200,000 square feet of new R&D and office space along with a 600-car parking structure. A third building is being planned.
MSU is joined in the project by Health Innovation Partners, and together they focus on developing public-private partnerships to bring new drug and therapy discoveries to market. The new building is slated to open in late 2021.
Health Innovation Partners is a real estate development joint venture between Rockford Construction, MB Real Estate, and Walsh Construction/Walsh Investors. SmithGroup is lead architect. Together, the partners work on research, testing, and commercialization of new therapies and medical devices.
“The renderings (we released) provide a glimpse of our vision for this incredible collaboration,” says Mike Mraz, president of real estate development at Rockford Construction. “Our future tenants will be at the center of innovation, medical research, and development, and we are thrilled to play our part in this great opportunity for future medical advances.”
The university and developers are in conversations with potential tenants in private industry and health care and are focused on areas including cancer research, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, artificial intelligence, and medical device development. Secured tenants will be announced in early fall, when a groundbreaking is also expected.
“Vehicular access to the site will remain on Monroe Avenue, while pedestrians will be able to walk through a wide courtyard between the two buildings,” says Mraz. “A centralized parking structure will support the site, and a future building is also planned along Monroe.”
