Baltimore, MD – Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore celebrated the opening of an innovative 8-story, 250,000 square-foot multi-tenant lab and office building located along Martin Luther King Boulevard.
This new facility, 4MLK, represents a significant milestone in the city’s commitment to advancing life sciences and fostering economic development. Dozens of innovators, city and state leaders, University of Maryland-Baltimore officials, regional economic development advocates, life science industry experts, and community members joined Lt. Governor Miller and Mayor Scott. The collaboration among these entities highlights a shared vision for creating a vibrant ecosystem that supports research, innovation, and growth in the life sciences sector.
“We are thrilled to inaugurate this state-of-the-art facility, which will serve as a breeding ground for collaboration and innovation,” said Lt. Governor Miller. “This building is not just brick and mortar; it represents our commitment to advancing research, fostering economic opportunity, and promoting growth for the people of Maryland.”
The multi-tenant building is designed to accommodate a range of scientific and office enterprises, providing a collaborative environment for research and development. 4MLK - which is a result of engineering-medical, private-public, and state-local partnerships, fills the need for commercial wet lab space in downtown Baltimore and will support up to 1,000 jobs, bringing economic growth to the community and elevating the city as a life science and biotech hub. It also brings Connect Labs - a new, in-demand, scale-in-place lab, and innovation infrastructure lab model to Baltimore.
“Maryland’s life science sector is second to none, and 4MLK will connect the community to modern and collaborative lab space, driving economic growth and creating real opportunities for Baltimore to thrive as a hub for entrepreneurs," said Lt. Gov. Miller.
“Today’s grand opening of 4MLK is a transformative moment for Baltimore. This state-of-the-art facility meets the growing demand for life sciences infrastructure and reinforces our city's position as a hub for innovation and inclusive growth. This investment by Wexford, in collaboration with our partners at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, highlights the power of teamwork in shaping a brighter and more equitable future for West Baltimore and beyond,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott.
“Maryland is well positioned for growth. Following years of economic stagnation, the Moore-Miller administration is ensuring we capitalize on strengths like the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the region's growing biopharma sector," said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. "4MLK will be a transformative addition to the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus and all of downtown Baltimore as we work to open up more paths to work, wages, and wealth for all Marylanders."
“The BioPark plays a vital role for UMB. When we bring private companies to UMB’s campus to partner with our experts and students, we create an environment for groundbreaking innovation and development to flourish,” said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. “We have been eagerly awaiting 4MLK — it will enhance our ability to provide researchers and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to push the boundaries of biotechnology. It is a tangible product of our continued dedication to advancing life sciences, driving economic advancement in Baltimore, and creating a strong, vibrant West Baltimore.”
More info on 4MLK Spaces:
- 160,000 square feet of Class A wet lab-capable space is available to commercial partners for build-out.
- Connect Labs Baltimore, a 35,000-square-foot flexible, scale-in-place lab and innovation infrastructure specifically designed to meet the rigorous needs of growing life science companies. The flexible lab spaces are paired with full-service amenities such as shared lab equipment, weekly networking and educational programming, and flexible terms.
- A 16,000-square-foot space civic lounge and assembly space to encourage community gathering events and networking. Wexford’s Knowledge Community offering will provide educational programming opportunities for tenants, UMB, and the greater Baltimore community.
- Outside of the building, 4MLK delivers an adjacent public plaza and an activated streetscape with retail and food and beverage venues along West Baltimore Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
About the University of Maryland BioPark:
The University of Maryland BioPark offers high-quality lab and office space solutions for companies of all sizes, especially high-growth companies seeking connection with its academic partner, the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Tenants include industry-leading global firms such as Catalent, Pharmaron, Illumina, and BD, next-gen ventures, university spinouts, UMB research centers, cutting-edge clinical care, and contemporary workforce training programs. More than 1,000 people are working in the BioPark today; future development is expected to double the workforce. For more information, visit www.umbiopark.com
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