Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, U.S. Representatives Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards, Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen, National Cancer Institute Director Dr. Harold Varmus, Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels, General Services Administration (GSA) officials, representatives from The JBG Companies and other officials to mark the start of construction on a new, $200 million satellite campus at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center for 2,100 employees of the National Cancer Institute.

“At the heart of the Life Sciences Center is a community which, in our view, is a blend of healthcare, biotech and IT interests that combine to create a vital, future business destination that will employ thousands of excellent minds and imaginations,” said Leggett. “We are determined, as well, that it grows carefully into a model environmental community that continues to be a desirable destination in which to live.”

“This new facility represents a collective investment in the talents, skills, creativity, and education of our people,” O’Malley said. “In these tough times, it will create much needed jobs for our families during construction, and its sustainable design will help our environment. When it is complete, the vital research and innovation that will happen here will improve our health and biosciences sectors and help us to secure a better, stronger and healthier future for generations to come.”

The creation of such an important building block in the evolving Great Seneca Science Corridor is testament to the cooperative efforts of the National Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. General Services Administration and The JBG Companies.

“We continue to champion improved healthcare and biosciences here and everywhere Johns Hopkins University has a presence,” said Ronald Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University. “Our vision is to provide the right environments for scientists, educators, students, caregivers and entrepreneurs to work and live. We welcome NCI to our campus and look forward to a long and productive relationship with its leaders and staff.”

NCI’s new satellite site will be located on Johns Hopkins’ Montgomery County Campus, which is home to more than 4,000 students, 450 full and part-time faculty members and 16 biotech companies and research centers. As a vital part of the Life Sciences Center, JHU’s goal is to advance education, science, applied research and healthcare.

“This new campus of the National Cancer Institute is a tremendous partnership opportunity that will be a magnet for investments and job creation in our local community, our state and the region,” Cardin said. “Maryland is a national leader in healthcare and biotech development and this new Montgomery County facility will keep us on the leading edge for years to come.”

The JBG Companies was selected to develop the complex as twin, seven-story buildings with a parking garage and shops on nine acres overlooking a large pond. He said JBG will register with the U.S. Green Building Council, and will pursue LEED Gold certification. A transit stop on the future Corridor Cities Transitway will connect to the Shady Grove Metro station, which will be critical to the success of this transit-oriented project.

“This is a blue-chip alliance that we are extremely proud to be a part of,” said Rod Lawrence, managing principal for The JBG Companies. “We pledge to develop a cutting edge, technologically advanced facility that will enhance NCI’s mission and foster a special collaboration of professional, academic and private interests focused on curing cancer.”

Most of the NCI staff members who will work at the Life Sciences Center are presently located in other commercial buildings that do not afford space for future expansion. NCI is headquartered on the Bethesda campus of the National Institutes of Health, and also has operations in Frederick, Md., and several other smaller satellite facilities in Montgomery County.

JBG signed a long-term ground lease with Johns Hopkins, which owns the land, to build the 575,000 square foot facility, which is scheduled to be delivered in early 2013. It was designed by Washington architect HOK. Rockville’s James G. Davis Construction Corporation is the general contractor.

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Montgomery County
Media contact: Kristina Ellis, 240.793.9568, kristina.ellis@montgomerycountymd.gov 

The National Cancer Institute
Media contact: NCI Office of Media Relations, 301.496.6641, ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov

The U.S. General Services Administration
Media contact: Nancy Wilochka, 202.205.5280, Nancy.Wilochka@GSA.gov

The Johns Hopkins University
Media contact: Tracey Reeves, 443.287.9900, treeves@jhu.edu 

The JBG Companies
Web site:  www,JBG.com, 240.333.3600.

HOK
Contact Amber Majid, 202.944.1410, amber.majid@hok.com.

James G. Davis Construction Corporation
Media contact: Louise Boulton-Lear, 301.255.2169, lboultonlear@davisconstruction.com.