New life science construction has bounced off its low point reached in 2Q25. At that time 10.4 million square feet had broken ground within the twelve months prior. By the final quarter of the year, the trailing twelve-month total moved up to 12.4 million square feet. A significant portion of the new construction is made up of manufacturing facilities. The map below displays the markets where manufacturing projects are underway. Some significant projects include:
In May 2025, Eli Lily & Co broke ground on $4.5 billion campus that will span 7 buildings for a total of 1.2 million square feet. Located in Lebanon, IN, the campus will combine research, process development and manufacturing into one location. The project is expected to produce the first batch of investigative medicine for clinical trials in 2027.
Genentech Manufacturing Holly Springs
In August 2025 Genentech broke ground in Holly Springs, NC. The initial project was planned to be a 700k square feet manufacturing facility, representing a $700 million investment. However, in early 2026, Genentech announced they were expanding their initial investment to around $2 billion dollars. Expected to be operational by 2029, this facility will target next-generation treatments for metabolic diseases.
We can see from the map that the most significant investments are being made on the east coast, but sizeable projects are also scattered across the Midwest and California. The uptick in construction at the end of 2025, and decisions like Genentech doubling down on their investments, are a sign of the growing domestic manufacturing ecosystems.
