Photo courtesy of CBRE

Four life science companies have inked leases in a lab conversion of Andover Technology Park, including the new U.S. headquarters of a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-backed vaccine manufacturer.

Celera Properties and True North Management Group are partnering on the 250,000-square-foot repositioning project which includes two spec lab suites in its first phase.

Univercells, a vaccine manufacturer that’s received funding from Gates Foundation, established its U.S. headquarters at the property in September after signing a lease for approximately 8,600 square feet in March.

A total of 42,000 square feet has been leased to Univercells and three other undisclosed tenants, including two biotechs and an advanced manufacturing company, CBRE announced.

In 2021, the developers received $38.3 million in financing from OceanFirst Bank for the office-to-lab-and-manufacturing conversion of two buildings at 300 and 600 Federal St.

The core-and-shell redevelopment at 600 Federal St. included power upgrades and lab-ready base building improvements, a new facade and common area amenities and a fitness studio.

Members of the project team included construction manager Timberline Construction, architect VIVO Arch and AHA Consulting Engineers.

CBRE’s Don Domoretsky, Alex Plaisted, and Jack Scribner represented ownership in leasing.