Cambridge-based Genzyme Corp. officially opened its $125 million, 180,000-square-foot, 350-employee Framingham Science Center last week.
Genzyme’s 14-building, 1 million-square-foot Framingham campus now employs about 2,000 people, the biotech company’s largest concentration of employees worldwide. The company has had a presence in Framingham for nearly 20 years.
Researchers at the new science center will focus on genetic diseases, cancer, immune diseases, kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrinology and neurological disorders.
“It’s just a building, a tool,” said Richard Gregory, Genzyme’s senior vice president and its head of research, adding that it is the people inside the building, with a commitment to patients, which makes the company successful.
The center is part of an expansion of Genzyme’s research, development and manufacturing operations around the world. In addition to the science center, a $250 million cell culture manufacturing facility is also under construction in Framingham. At some point in the future, a matching building to the new science center will be also added to the campus.
A $150 million expansion of the company’s cell culture manufacturing facility in Allston began last year. The company is also building in France, Germany and China.
The new science center is also Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified for “green features” like high-efficiency lighting, heating and cooling systems.
