Genzyme to move 500 Framingham employees to Westborough
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Genzyme will be moving part of its operations from its facility in Framingham
Cambridge-based Genzyme Corp. will move part of its operations in Framingham to Westborough by the end of the year, taking with it 500 employees, the company said.
The biotech giant, which has occupied a large portion of the 9/90 Corporate Center off Route 9 in Framingham since February 2007, signed a 7-year lease deal and will occupy 114,000 square feet at One Research Drive, according to David Ferris, CEO of Ferris Development Group of Marlborough.
Ferris, which owns and manages the property, is in the process of renovating the space for Genzyme.
The company, which is owned by French multinational Sanofi, is expected to move its offices at 9/90 to Westborough by December. Genzyme also has operations at the nearby Framingham Technology Park, with about 900 employees. Those operations will not be impacted by the move.
Cost, amenities among reasons
“Our lease (in Framingham) expires at the end of the year, and as part of our standard lease renewal process, our Sanofi real estate colleagues conducted a review to confirm that remaining at the current location (is not) the best option in terms of not only cost but also amenities (and quality of office space,)” Genzyme spokesman David Murdoch wrote in an statement.
The employees who will move to Westborough work in the following departments: Global Industrial Operations, quality, information systems, procurement, regulatory affairs, human resources and information solutions, according to Murdoch.
“The One Research Drive location in Westborough was chosen because it provides a cost savings in newly built-out space, with additional on-site amenities for our employees such as a cafeteria, fitness center, and additional parking,” Murdoch added.
Framingham tech park operations to remain
In 2012, Genzyme opened a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Framingham Technology Park, just across Route 9 from the 9/90 Corporate Center. It’s currently expanding that site with a new processing facility for the production of its drug, Fabrazyme, which treats a genetic disorder by replacing missing enzymes.
“We maintain a strong commitment to Framingham with our R&D center, and three separate manufacturing facilities, including one that is currently undergoing an $80-million expansion,” Murdoch wrote.
Framingham officials were not available for comment Thursday morning.
One Research Drive, located near the interchange between Interstate 495 and Route 9, is now fully leased after Ferris Development bought the property from the Illinois State Pension Fund in February for $21.5 million, David Ferris said.
Ferris Development owns and manages the property on behalf of a large group of investors, and recently signed leases to several other tenants.
Westborough Building Commissioner Tin Htway said Ferris has rapidly redeveloped One Research Drive since taking ownership of the property earlier this year. He said town officials began talking with Ferris about three months ago about its plans to renovate part of the property for Genzyme.
Genzyme has a smaller office and lab space across Route 9 on Computer Drive as well, according to Htway.
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