Zoning Commission Board Approves BioSquare II and Biosafety Lab
Boston University Medical Center
January 12, 2005
The Boston Zoning Commission Board approved the Boston University Medical Center’s BioSquare II project during a meeting held today. The BioSquare II project includes the Biosafety Laboratory. The Zoning Commission approval is the final city regulatory approval needed before construction can begin.
BioSquare II includes the development of 410,000 square feet of medical research space including the Biosafety Lab and a 1,400 parking space garage. When all phases of BioSquare are complete (I and II), there will be 1.14 million square feet of research space at BioSquare. The project is located on Albany Street in the South End.
Following a significant public outreach and review process, the project was approved by the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Affairs in November 2004 and by the Boston Redevelopment Authority in December 2004. The project is currently in the final stages of a federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). The NEPA public comment period ended in early January and a Final Environmental Impact Statement will be issued later this spring.
“This is a significant milestone in the regulatory process. As awareness of the project increased the importance of the laboratory was understood and community support for the project grew,” said Richard Towle, Senior Vice President, Boston University. The Biosafety Laboratory will conduct meaningful research that will ultimately find cures and save lives.”